Killer Sentenced to Minimum 23 Years for Premeditated Ambush Murder
A man who brutally murdered his wife after she ended their marriage and started a new relationship has been jailed for a minimum of 23 years and nine months. Thisara Weragalage, 38, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday for the fatal stabbing of Niwunhellage Dona Nirodha Kalpani Niwunhella, known as Nirodha, 32.
Obsessive Stalking and Planned Attack
Weragalage lay in wait for Nirodha to leave for work in Cardiff last year, ambushing her outside her new partner's home. The court heard that Weragalage had become obsessed with Nirodha and her new partner, James Stephenson, after discovering messages between them on her phone. He began spying on her and attempting to control her social interactions.
Judge Daniel Williams described Weragalage's actions as driven by brutal selfishness. You could not accept that your marriage was at an end, Judge Williams stated. Nirodha's relationship with James Stephenson became your sole and obsessive focus.
Evidence revealed that Weragalage had staked out Mr. Stephenson's address eight times and photographed his car prior to the attack. On August 21, he ambushed Nirodha using one of three knives he had purchased the day before.
Ferocious and Catastrophic Assault
Nirodha sustained extensive and catastrophic injuries during the assault, including 17 stab wounds to her neck, face, chest, and leg. Prosecutor Michael Jones KC emphasized that the murder was not a chance encounter but a planned and fatal attack driven by Weragalage's inability to accept that Nirodha had moved on.
The prosecution case is that such was the ferocity of the attack on her that the knife broke during the assault, Jones told the court. His intention was a determined and planned intention to kill her.
Judge Williams noted that Nirodha had no chance of surviving the ferocious attack. She has been described as the kindest and most caring person you could meet, he said. She had a long and happy future ahead of her. Your brutal selfishness has left a void which can never be filled.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
Following the murder, Weragalage fled the scene and was later detained after attempting to throw himself under a lorry. He claimed to police that he could not remember the confrontation and had only bought the knives to scare Nirodha.
His defense barrister stated that Weragalage was overtaken by jealousy and could not live without her, and he could not contemplate a future where he was on his own.
Weragalage pleaded guilty to murder and possession of a knife in a public place. Emma Davies of the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted the premeditation as a significant factor in the shocking crime. The strong evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service demonstrated his intention and resulted in a guilty plea, Davies said.
Broader Context and Support
The case underscores ongoing issues of violence against women. The Crown Prosecution Service emphasized its commitment to working with police to build strong cases against perpetrators of such crimes. Our prosecutors are making sure more victims of these abhorrent and devastating crimes receive the justice they deserve, Davies added. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Nirodha, who have suffered a tragic loss.
This sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the importance of legal accountability in addressing such tragedies.
