Wife killer in botched suicide bid inside court

By Madura Ranwala

A man sentenced to death for murdering his wife attempted suicide in the dock at the Nuwara Eliya High Court after the Judge handed down the death sentence.

Police Spokesman, SSP Ajith Rohana said the incident had occurred around 11.00 a.m. in the High Court.

The man had, on being sentenced, pulled out a blade and slashed his neck.

He said the convict, Ramaiya Krishnamurthi, was undergoing treatment at the Nuwara Eliya hospital and is being guarded by prison officials.

He said that the man had murdered his wife a few years ago by setting her on fire.

Asked how the convict had smuggled a blade into the court house, SSP Rohana said that accused had been on trial for a number of years and was on bail. Therefore he may have concealed the blade on his person and entered the Court, the SSP said.