Trampled beauty

People who have read about the murder trial of Adeline Vitharane, in the newspapers of a young woman whose body was found lying on the turn off to Wilpattu Puttalam road, almost five decades ago, would perhaps draw a parallel to a similar episode that happened recently in the Piliyandala area.

A 16 year old schoolgirl was mowed down by a car driven by a megalomaniac while she was walking along the road at Piliyandala - Bandaragama road, a fortnight ago.

The Adeline Vitharana murder in 1958 became a sensational murder trial when it was revealed that Ananda Godage a schoolteacher and two others were the main suspect sinvolved in the murder. He ran over Adeline Vitharana with his car and left her body on the Puttalam road.

Her body in her under clothes was found by people who happened to pass that way. After exhaustive investigations, the police finally arrested the suspect who went into hiding after committing the gruesome murder.

The recent killing of Niroshini Nadika Mendis Gunesekara, a 16 year old girl, by a male motorist evokes memories of the Adeline Vitharane murder case for those who are familiar with facts of the case.

According to Piliyandala police, the motive for the murder of the innocent girl was an act of revenge on the part of the suspect who failed miserably to befriend the young girl, with a view to cultivate an affair that became fruitless.

The suspect was a male motor cab driver by profession. He was infatuated from the day he saw Niroshini, a schoolgirl residing in the same village where he lived. The young Cab driver, a native from the South came to reside at Nuwungama Piliyandala after finding employment in the Western Province.

After seeing her almost day in day out in the village, he secretly fell in love with her and was very much obsessed by her looks. She was a vivacious looking girl who minded her own business. The Cab driver made several overtures to entice and then to captivate her. But all his efforts became futile due to the lack of interest shown by her. Niroshani on her part was not at all interested in him.

She had other problems which worried her and was more concerned about her studies than anything else. Besides, she did not want to get involved with a mature man twice her age as it was incompatible.

But the Cab driver was persistent and never took no for an answer. His idea however was to win her over by hook or by crook. He took note of the times that Niroshini left home to attend tuition classes in the Piliyandala town.

He accosted her on many of those occasions when he encountered her. But she was not responsive and it all fell on her deaf years.

The chauffeur, was distraught as the girl did not respond positively. As months rolled by and things went on like this for some time, his love gradually turned into hatred because he simply could not win her over.

The Cab driver was a vicious man with a vile temper. He spent sleepless nights mapping out a plan to take revenge from Niroshini. Finally he plotted to murder her.

On July 30 the cab driver spotted Niroshini walking along the Makanda road Piliyandala around 4.15 p.m while driving car No NPJM. 4295. The chauffeur knew well that Niroshini was in the habit of attending tuition classes at Piliyandala almost everyday.

He sped Past Niroshini, driving his car at break neck speed. After proceeding for nearly 200 yards he jammed the brakes suddenly and reversed the car at full speed.

Unaware that a car on reverse gear was hurling at her at full speed, Niroshini was walking along the road. Glancing through the rear mirror, the cab driver noticed Niroshini was almost right behind the vehicle.

Then he forcefully stepped on the accelerator and the car went at full speed mowing down Niroshini to the ground. Thereafter the Cab driver fled away from the scene and did not report the accident to the Piliyandala police due to guilty consciousness.

The girl who sustained serious injuries from the accident was rushed to the Colombo National hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries on August 4.When the accident was reported to the Piliyandala Police, they rushed to scene, to investigate the matter. Police were somewhat baffled at the very outset when they thought it was a hit and run vehicle.

Police launched a hunt for the suspect and the vehicle all over the country.

A few days later the suspect cab diver surrendered to the police through a lawyer.

After interrogating the suspect, police learnt that it was not an accident but was a premeditated murder. Later the suspect was taken before courts and remanded till investigations are completed.

OIC Piliyandala Police station, Chief Inspector U. D. Alawatte is conducting further inquiries under the supervision of SSP Mount Lavina Police Division, Hemantha Adikari and Supdt. of Police L. C. Gunewardena.