Harr

Manslaughter conviction after trial at Liverpool Crown Court

29/05/2012

A man who killed a shopkeeper in an attempted robbery was cleared of murder by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court today.

Sam Harrison, 19, was convicted of the manslaughter of 30-year-old  Mahesh Wickramasingha and was sentenced to 10  years imprisonment.
In November 29, 2011,  Harrison, from  Huyton, went to  Stanley News in Kingsway,  armed with a 10-inch  fishing knife. His intention was to rob the  shop to pay for gambling debts.
Jane Roden Head of the Complex Casework Unit at CPS Mersey-Cheshire said: "We examined all of the evidence in this case and made the decision to charge and prosecute the defendant for murder.

" The defendant pleaded guilty to manslaughter which we did not accept and we proceeded to trial on the charge of murder.

"The jury acquitted Harrison of murder. That is the basis of our judicial process which we cannot challenge."

ends

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