Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to let go of a death-row prisoner who murdered a Swedish teenager has sparked national outrage.
Following the highly unusual amnesty granted by President Maithripala Sirisena, killer Jude Jayamaha walked out of Welikada prison, free, on Saturday, November 9. Jude belongs from a wealthy, high-profile family.
The controversial decision comes ahead of Sirisena’s resignation on Saturday, November 16, before the presidential election where he is not a candidate. Last month, he announced that he was considering a request to grant Jayamaha a pardon.
In 2005, Jude had beaten to death Yvonne Jonsson, who was holidaying in Sri Lanka. She was murdered at a high-rise apartment in Colombo after she and Jude had an argument. The court was told that her skull was fractured into 64 pieces.
Initially, Jude was sentenced to 12 years in prison. After he appealed to the higher court, his plea was rejected and he was sentenced to death. This was again reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in 2014. Caroline, the victim’s sister, expressed her concerns on a Facebook post.
“He showed and continues to show absolutely no remorse for what he has done,” she wrote. “We’ve worked hard to rebuild our lives and here we are, going into 15 years, still fighting for justice. Unfortunately, we now have to prepare ourselves for the worst possible outcome, the pardon of my sister’s murderer.”
As Yvonne’s sister it breaks my heart to have to respond to the recent news about the President considering a pardon for…
Caroline Jonsson-Bradley ಅವರಿಂದ ಈ ದಿನದಂದು ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ ಮಂಗಳವಾರ, ಅಕ್ಟೋಬರ್ 22, 2019
Many took to social media to condemn the President.
I revive my twitter to publicly condemn you @MaithripalaS. As a woman of Sri Lanka and as a daughter of Sri Lanka – how dare you pardon Jude Jayamaha.
It disgusts me that you consider him reformed, that you pardon him when there are others more worthy of pardoning.
— Natsumi Suzuki (@sumiNat) November 11, 2019
Your pardoning is unacceptable, @MaithripalaS, I condemn this baseless, monetary and reputation propelled decision of yours, Sir.
I demand evidence. I demand a thorough assessment. I demand that you provide an unbiased explanation for your pardon of Jude Jayamaha.
— Natsumi Suzuki (@sumiNat) November 11, 2019
Pardoning Jude Shramantha Jayamaha, a death-row prisoner who was convicted for the gruesome Royal Park murder in 2005, should be condemned. I feel for the family of Yvonne Jonsson, who are still fighting for justice even 15 years after the despicable crime. Shame! #SriLanka #lka
— Rasika Jayakody (@rasikajy) November 11, 2019
The worst decision you could have taken @MaithripalaS 6.2M votes for this,it is a pathetic decision by you.
Jude Anthony Jayamaha, sentenced to death for the 2005 Royal Park murder, leaves prison after receiving a Presidential Pardon : Dept. of Prisons- https://t.co/vb34Sc0Uix
— Trehan Munasinghe™ (රාවණා) (@Tre_Munasinghe) November 10, 2019
@MaithripalaS on what grounds have you showed mercy on Jude Jayamaha? Was it just @SwedenUN national 19 year old Yvonne Jonsson not from your family and not even from Srilanka? Shame on you for freeing him
— Siddhartha Kiran (@SiddharthaKira1) November 10, 2019
Sirisena must leave a day or two after the polls, as he failed to secure support from his own party to contest the November 16 election.
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