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Two charged with murder of pizza delivery driver Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, stabbed to death on final order before new job

The 25-year-old was found dead in his car on Sunday night in Sheffield

Kashmira Gander
Saturday 02 November 2013 09:00 GMT
Thavisha Lakindu Peiris was stabbed to death as he made his final pizza delivery
Thavisha Lakindu Peiris was stabbed to death as he made his final pizza delivery (PA)

Two people have been charged with the murder of a pizza delivery driver who was stabbed to death as he was dropping off his last ever order.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, 25, was found dead in his car on Sunday night in Southey, Sheffield.

Shamraze Khan, 25, of Southey Crescent, Sheffield, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are both due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates' Court today

Peiris died in what police are calling an apparently random attack that stopped him from completing his last shift and moving on to start his career as an IT consultant.

After Peiris did not deliver his last order on 27 November, a co-worker went to search for him. He found Peiris slumped in a silver Toyota Yaris in Southey Crescent at around 10.30pm.

His colleagues and police said that he had felt unwell and planned to go home early, but agreed to deliver one last order.

Speaking from their home in Sri Lanka, his family described him as the "most caring and loving son a parent could have".

Peiris’ father and mother, Sarath Mahinda Peiris and Sudarma Narangoda, said: "We sent our son to the UK to study so he can have a better life. Now we are left with only a broken heart.

"We urge anyone who knows anything about our son's tragic death to come forward to help bring whoever is responsible to justice. Please help the police stop another father or mother feel the tragic loss that we are feeling,” they added.

Mr Peiris came to the UK to finish an IT degree and graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2011.

There are more than 50 police staff involved in the investigation.

Detective Superintendent Lisa Ray, the officer leading the murder inquiry, said she did not know why Mr Peiris was killed in an apparently random attack.

She said robbery was a possibility but it appeared that no money had been taken.

It is understood his family are making plans to travel to South Yorkshire.

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