High Court acquits accused in murder of Swiss national

Radeloff was found dead at his residence in Seenimodara in 2004. The Attorney General had indicted Wickramarathna, a former gardener and employee of the deceased, based solely on circumstantial evidence.

During the trial, the court heard that the accused had resigned from his employment nearly a year before the incident and that no evidence of a personal dispute or motive was presented. The judge also highlighted the extensive security features at the victim’s home, including a parapet wall and electric fencing, which made unauthorized access difficult.

Concerns were also raised over the police identification process, as investigation officers had reportedly shown the accused to witnesses before the formal identification parade, compromising the credibility of that evidence.

Delivering the verdict, the High Court judge stated that the prosecution had failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt, and that a conviction could not be upheld solely on the circumstantial evidence presented.