Female journalist murder suspect enters house for robbery

The suspect arrested in connection with the murder of Sri Lankan journalist Mel Gunasekara has claimed that he entered the house with the motive of robbing the place, local media reported Tuesday. The suspect Samson Joseph Anthony, 39, was brought to Police Headquarters Tuesday. The suspect had worked in Mel Gunasekara's house as a painter prior to the Christmas season,police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said to media. The suspect has reportedly told police that he thought the family would have gone to church and had unexpectedly confronted Mel Gunasekara who was at home. A sharp instrument had been used to stab the journalist and at least six injuries were observed on the neck of the victim. The suspect claimed that he had come alone for the robbery. Soon after the murder he had changed his clothes with Ms Gunasekra's brother's clothes and escaped. SSP Rohana said that the availability of video footage captured from a CCTV from an adjoining house helped to trace the suspect. The victim's phone too was recovered from his house.