Galle High Court Judge Purnima Paranagama, who heard the case filed against three for committing murder by beating a person with clubs, acquitted and released the two defendants, who are currently alive, as they failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. The two defendants who were acquitted and released were Chandra Padma Kumara Madanayake and Palihapitiya Gamage Nihal Duminda, while the second defendant, Mutthettuwatte Kankanamage Sanjaya had died before the judgement.