Thavisha Lakindu, Pizza Delivery Driver, Two Arrested

Two Charged Over Tragic Pizza Driver Murder

Two people have been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with the murder of a pizza delivery driver.

Shamraze Khan, 25, of Southey Crescent, Sheffield, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were both charged with the murder of Thavisha Lakindu Peiris overnight.

Mr Peiris, 25, had been delivering his last pizza before starting a new job when he was stabbed to death in the Southey area of Sheffield on Sunday night.

Khan and the youth appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court for a five-minute hearing today.

They were remanded in custody and told they will appear again at Sheffield Crown Court on November 15.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris

Mr Peiris, 25, had been delivering his last-ever pizza when he was stabbed to death in his car in the Southey area of city.

Mr Peiris was on his last shift before starting his dream job when he died.

He was found dead in a silver Toyota Yaris car in Southey Crescent in the city at about 10.30pm by fellow Domino's workers who had gone looking for him after he failed to deliver his order.

His family described him as the "most caring and loving son a parent could have".

Speaking from their family home in Sri Lanka, his father Sarath Mahinda Peiris and mother 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 were devastated and shocked to hear of our son's tragic end and we are still unable to comprehend that he is actually gone.

"Thavisha was one of the most caring and loving sons a parent could have. He was full of life and always had a smile on his face. Anyone who met him immediately liked him."

Mr Peiris's older brother Pramod Chetheka Peiris said: "I am heartbroken. My brother Thavisha was the centre of our world.

"He gave us so many reasons to smile. He was kind and considerate and we were extremely proud of his achievements.

"We were so happy that he was doing so well in England."

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

He had just secured a job as an IT consultant in the city.

His colleagues and police said he had been feeling unwell during his last shift and was going to go home early but agreed to deliver one last order.

Domino's Pizza has said it was funding the cost of flying Mr Peiris's family to the UK in the coming days.

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