The case against Naufer Moulavi, named as the main mastermind of the attacks, and 23 others has dragged on for years. The coordinated suicide attacks on multiple locations including several churches holding Easter mass and three luxury hotels were the deadliest Sri Lanka had seen since the end of its civil war in 2009. The associates and relatives of nine suicide bombers are among those facing more than 23,000 charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism and possessing firearms. All defendants have denied involvement. Investigators blame the attack on a homegrown Islamist extremist group. The prosecution had named Moulavi as the main organizer of the attacks, and had submitted what they said was a voluntary confession to the court where he had admitted his role. The court accepted the confession. However, Moulavi later told the three-judge bench hearing the case that he was not shown what he was signing and rejected the allegations against him. More than 2,300 people gave evidence for the prosecution. There were also 2,076 pieces of evidence, including explosives, swords and firearms. In the wake of the attacks, Sri Lankan authorities pointed to a "major intelligence lapse". Its parliament heard that a tip-off from India about the attacks was not properly shared with the authorities. (BBC)