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Khuram Shaikh death: Sri Lanka ministers 'apologise' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Senior members of the Sri Lankan government have apologised for the death of a Rochdale man in the country in 2011, the town's MP has said. | Senior members of the Sri Lankan government have apologised for the death of a Rochdale man in the country in 2011, the town's MP has said. |
Khuram Shaikh, 32, from Milnrow was shot and stabbed on Christmas Day 2011. | Khuram Shaikh, 32, from Milnrow was shot and stabbed on Christmas Day 2011. |
Eight people, including a Sri Lankan politician, were arrested and bailed in November. They all denied the charges. | Eight people, including a Sri Lankan politician, were arrested and bailed in November. They all denied the charges. |
Simon Danczuk, who has been visiting the country said he had meetings with a "number of senior ministers, who said sorry for what happened to Khuram". | Simon Danczuk, who has been visiting the country said he had meetings with a "number of senior ministers, who said sorry for what happened to Khuram". |
"That has to be welcomed, because I think it is the first time that anybody at a senior level has said sorry for the murder." | "That has to be welcomed, because I think it is the first time that anybody at a senior level has said sorry for the murder." |
The British High Commission in Colombo has previously said the 18-month delay in bringing the accused to trial was "not a good message to tourists". | The British High Commission in Colombo has previously said the 18-month delay in bringing the accused to trial was "not a good message to tourists". |
The Labour MP said the ministers had told him that missing DNA evidence, which had delayed the prosecution, had been "produced". | The Labour MP said the ministers had told him that missing DNA evidence, which had delayed the prosecution, had been "produced". |
"That is a significant piece of the jigsaw in terms of a successful prosecution and it has taken a long time for the forensic examinations to be done on that." | "That is a significant piece of the jigsaw in terms of a successful prosecution and it has taken a long time for the forensic examinations to be done on that." |
He added that the officials had also given him "assurances and guarantees that justice would be done and [the case] would go to trial". | He added that the officials had also given him "assurances and guarantees that justice would be done and [the case] would go to trial". |
'Cautious but optimistic' | 'Cautious but optimistic' |
In a statement issued earlier this month, the Sri Lanka High Commission said the government of Sri Lanka "is committed to prosecute the persons responsible", with a "special prosecutor nominated by the Attorney-General to conduct the prosecution". | In a statement issued earlier this month, the Sri Lanka High Commission said the government of Sri Lanka "is committed to prosecute the persons responsible", with a "special prosecutor nominated by the Attorney-General to conduct the prosecution". |
It confirmed the case had been transferred from Tangalle to Columbo Magistrates Court "to prevent the alleged intimidation of witnesses". | It confirmed the case had been transferred from Tangalle to Columbo Magistrates Court "to prevent the alleged intimidation of witnesses". |
Mr Shaikh, who graduated from the University of Salford, had been working in Gaza for the Red Cross, fitting prosthetics limbs. | Mr Shaikh, who graduated from the University of Salford, had been working in Gaza for the Red Cross, fitting prosthetics limbs. |
He was shot and stabbed when he and his Russian girlfriend, Victoria Aleksandrovna Tkacheva, were attacked on holiday in the resort of Tangalle. | He was shot and stabbed when he and his Russian girlfriend, Victoria Aleksandrovna Tkacheva, were attacked on holiday in the resort of Tangalle. |
His brother, Nasir Shaikh, said the responses to Mr Danczuk's visit were "very encouraging and positive". | His brother, Nasir Shaikh, said the responses to Mr Danczuk's visit were "very encouraging and positive". |
"I'm cautious but optimistic - I hope this will actually move them towards the trial that needs to take place. | "I'm cautious but optimistic - I hope this will actually move them towards the trial that needs to take place. |
"We have been very concerned that it has taken so long to get the DNA report, but if it has been completed, that is a step forward." | "We have been very concerned that it has taken so long to get the DNA report, but if it has been completed, that is a step forward." |
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