Man jailed for slashing lover's throat

A Buddhist who sought reincarnation for he and his partner has been jailed for slashing her throat.

Belfast Crown Court heard 58-year-old Sri Lankian born Buddadasa Liyanage hit upon a one-sided death-pact after becoming jealous.

He feared he had lost his 28-year-old Limerick born lover Margaret Mary Meade to another and decided they "both should die".

He was an older man who could not cope with the ending of a relationship with a much younger girl and he decided it was best that both should die

Mr Justice Higgins

Liyanage, also known as 'Lee', believed as a Buddhist, that when in trouble "its better to die and be re-incarnated in a better life".

He slashed the woman with a bread knife at her Jordanstown Road home on the outskirts of Belfast on 2 August last year.

Liyanage then stabbed himself in the chest, neck and wrists.

Jailing Liyanage for five years, Mr Justice Higgins said that by last summer the relationship "had begun to crumble".

"It seems clear to me that as Miss Meade cooled in her affection for the defendant he became more possessive, jealous and matters came to a head on this particular day," said the judge.

"He was an older man who could not cope with the ending of a relationship with a much younger girl and he decided it was best that they both should die".

Liyanage was originally accused of attempting to murder Ms Meade, but the charge was dropped when he pleaded guilty to wounding her with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm.

Jailing him Mr Justice Higgins said for the sake of Ms Meade he hoped that Liyanage's declaration that he now realised their relationship was over, was true.

She now lectures in sports psychology at the University of Ulster.