The Court of Appeal has upheld the death sentence handed down by the Kurunegala High Court to three members of the same family on charges of hacking to death and causing serious injuries to another person for allegedly spying for the police on the sale of illicit liquor.

The death sentence was upheld by appeals filed by three convicts who were convicted of killing their own nephew in Polgahawela six years ago and seriously injuring his father.

The death sentence was upheld by PD Pohorawatta, a resident of Polgahawela. Douglas Wickramasinghe, P.D. Senarath Samarasinghe and P.D. Pradeep Sanjeewa Jayaratne to three members of the same family. Court of Appeal Judge Priyantha Fernando and Court of Appeal Judge Sampath Abeykoon delivered the judgment.

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileep Peiris said at the hearing that the judge had given the verdict ruling that the charges against the accused had been proved beyond a reasonable doubt based on the evidence presented in the High Court and that the petitioners had not pointed out that there were errors in that judgment.