Accused Barrhaven killer appears briefly in court as lawyer seeks further disclosure of evidence

Published Mar 30, 2024 • Last updated 11 hours ago • 2 minute read

Ewan Lyttle, lawyer for Febrio De-Zoysa, charged with multiple homicide Photo by Blair Crawford /POSTMEDIA

The 19-year-old man accused of killing six people at a Barrhaven home made a brief court appearance this past week as his lawyer requested further disclosure of evidence from the prosecution.

Febrio De-Zoysa, who remains in protective custody at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre, said little during the hearing Thursday afternoon, confirming only his name and date of birth as he attended virtually from the jail.

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There was no video link available for the hearing and De-Zoysa’s appearance was limited to audio only.

His lawyer, Ewan Lyttle, told the court he had received a volume of evidence so far and had held “active” discussions with the Crown attorney’s office over further disclosure.

The assigned prosecutor, Crown attorney Louise Tansey, has extensive experience leading the prosecution on a number of difficult cases involving children.

De-Zoysa is accused of killing six people — including four children — at a rented Barrhaven townhouse. He had been living with the victims on Berrigan Drive rent-free, and the family had recently helped him celebrate his 19th birthday, according to family friends.

The deceased are: Darshani Dilanthika Ekanayake, a 35-year-old wife and mother; Inuka Wickramasinghe, seven-year-old son; Ashwini Wickramasinghe, four-year-old daughter; Ranaya Wickramasinghe, three-year-old daughter; and Kelly Wickramasinghe, two-month-old daughter.

A friend who had been living with them, 40-year-old Gamini Amarakoon Amarakoon Mudiyanselage, was also killed. He had a wife and two children living in Sri Lanka.

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De-Zoysa faces six counts of first-degree murder and one attempted murder charge.

The lone survivor, Ekanayake’s husband, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, was seriously injured in the attack. He later attended the public funeral for his family with a bandaged hand and blackened eye.

Police said De-Zoysa came to Canada as an international student.

At a previous court appearance, Lyttle said he had been in touch with the young man’s family and that they were “obviously very upset.”

He said they did not reside in Sri Lanka and declined to say where they lived.

Any potential request for his client to undergo a mental-health assessment would “probably be a few months from now,” Lyttle said.

He declined to comment on the suspect’s mental state, saying only he had met with him in person and over video.

Police have not publicly suggested any motive behind the alleged murders.

Chief Eric Stubbs told reporters the victims were attacked with a “knife-like object.”

The family had moved to Canada in recent months with the three oldest children: Inuka; Ashwini; and Ranaya. Kelly was born in Canada.

De-Zoysa is due to appear next in court on April 18.

With files from The Canadian Press

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