Two convicts await hangman’s noose over murder of SSPDF officer

A special court handling criminal cases in Juba’s Gumbo-Sherikat has sentenced two people to death by hanging including after being found guilty in a murder case.

The Ajith Jok Yor and Malith Yuol Deng were found guilty in a case where a senior South Sudan Defense People’s Force (SSPDF) soldier, Lual Akok Wol Kiir, also known as Lual Marine was killed last year.

The third convict, Mayen Dau Deng, was told to pay a fine of South SSP 500,000 or face a five-year jail term.

Lual Marine who is also relative to President Salva Kiir was beaten during the incident and later died in a hospital in Juba.

The ruling that sealed the fate of the two convicts was read by Duop Kulang Jok, the presiding Judge for Gumbo Sherikat court, last week.

The court was told that the first and second perpetrator  took part in the crime on June 4, 2020, while the third accused participated in the crime on June 17, 2020.

“The first order hang them by the neck until death for violating provision of Article 48/206 of South Sudan Penal Code act 2008 issued under my hand and the seal of higher court here in Juba this day, the 18^th of May 2021,” Judge Kulang read the sentence.

What the law says

Article 48 of South Sudan penal code talks about act committed by several persons in persistence of common intension. Pursuant to this, it stated that each person is liable for the act in the same manner as if it were committed by him/her alone.

Meanwhile, Article 206 stated that whoever causes death of another person, [should know] that death will be the preferable not only likely penalties of the act; or anybody [who] injure another person [to death] commits the offence of murder upon conviction shall be sentenced to death or imprisonment for life and may also be liable to a find.

However, it also stated if the nearest relatives of the deceased choose customary blood compensation, the court may award it in place of death sentence with imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years.

The defense lawyers are expected to appeal the case within fifteen days after the judgment [so that they can] send confirmations to Supreme Court after the fifteen days of appeal.

Also,  the same court sentenced another five men to 10 years jail for their role in the June 2020 Sherikat incident that led to the death of six civilians.

The five convicts were identified as Aron Mading Mayen, Peter Kur, Donato Akok Garang, Daniel Kuon Deng, and Joseph Kawaj Bol.

The five have also been fined 200 herds of cattle each as blood compensation for the relatives of the deceased.

They are also fined 30 cows each as a retribution to the wounded.

“They have to be paid in accordance with Dinka Bor customary law; blood compensation and retribution should be paid through civil proceeding,” presiding judge Kulang said.

The convicts have until June 1 to appeal against the verdict.

The presiding judges at the special court of the Gumba Sherikat were Judge Kulang, Mujahid Abdalah Akol and Joshua Ladu.