Three accused of bringing Tamil migrants into Canada found not guilty

By kristinwoodhouse

Posted January 25, 2017 6:24 pm.

This article is more than 5 years old.

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Three of four men accused of bringing hundreds of Tamil migrants into Canada illegally have been found not guilty by a jury in BC Supreme Court.

Justice William Ehrcke declared a mistrial for the fourth man after a jury told the court it couldn’t decide the fate of Kunarobinson Christhurajah.

The jury began its deliberations last Thursday, but on Wednesday told the judge they were collectively exhausted and couldn’t reach a verdict.

The MV Sun Sea travelled from Thailand to Canada in summer 2010 carrying 492 Sri Lankan Tamils who intended to claim refugee status.

Lesly Emmanuel, Nadarajah Mahendran and Thampeernayagam Rajaratnam were acquitted by the jury.

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