Convicted Rapist in Vithiya Killing Ends Life Behind Bars

COLOMBO (News 1st); A man sentenced to death over the brutal rape and murder of schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vithiya has died by suicide while in custody at the Jaffna Prison, prison authorities confirmed.

The deceased has been identified as 46-year-old Poobalasingam Jeyakumar, who was named as the second accused in the case and had been convicted for his role in the crime. According to the Department of Prisons, he had taken his own life by hanging inside his prison cell where he was being held.

Jeyakumar was among four individuals who had been sentenced to death over the widely condemned crime, which shocked the nation. Earlier this month, on May 6, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentences imposed on the four convicts, cementing the earlier verdict delivered by lower courts.

The group of convicted individuals whose death sentences were confirmed by the Supreme Court included Poobalasingam Jeyakumar, Mahalingam Sashikumar also known as Swiss Kumar, Thilainathan Chandrahason also known as Chandra, and Sivadev Thushithan also referred to as Periyathambi.

In the same ruling, the Supreme Court acquitted and released two other accused in the case, Mahalingam Saseetharan, also known as Shashi, and Jayatharan Kokilan, after overturning their convictions.

The killing of Sivaloganathan Vithiya dates back to May 13, 2015, when the schoolgirl was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered in a case that drew outrage across Sri Lanka.