Monk jailed for meat cleaver murder

A Sri Lankan Buddhist monk was today jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering a work colleague by hacking him to death with a meat cleaver.

Nalaka Thero Rathmalane, 36, murdered fellow Sri Lankan Siriwimala Thero Patapiliyagoda, 30, at the Audleys Wood Hotel where they worked as housekeepers in Basingstoke, Hants, England, on December 20 2001, Winchester Crown Court heard.