A high court in Juba has condemn Bobby Longar Akok to death after it found him guilty of killing two people in Juba five months ago.
Longar was charged with two counts of murder after he shot dead his wife Rebecca Anyon Kot and a young man named Akech Atak Madut at a popular night club in June in Juba. He was suspecting his wife of unfaithfulness.
The court heard that the soldier shot Anyon four times and Akech, five times – an act that qualifies as premeditated killing.
The finding read by the Judge of the high court Alexand Sabor shows that Longar, who was an officer of the National Security Service – will be hanged to death in accordance with the South Sudan Penal Code 2008.
“The accused intended to kill the two deceased by multiple gunshots and the court charged him under section 206 of Penal Code Act 2008 for causing the death of the two deceased, Rebecca Nyon and Akech Atak Madut,” said Judge Alexand Sabor.
The judge said the court is expecting the families’ views and any other proof that could change the verdict to homicide within this week.
The final announcement has been scheduled for Friday 23 of December to allow the two families of the victims to consult and decide whether to forgive Longar and ask for payment of blood compensation or accept the court’s ruling – hanging.
Tong John Clement, the lawyer representing the first victim (Anyon), welcomed the verdict, describing it as “fair”.
“The judgement delivered by the high court today was positive and expected due to the fact that their killing was inhuman and degrading. Actually, it was beyond any evil thing anyone could do to a human being like him or her,” Clement told reporters.
However, the defense lawyer of Longar, Kiir Chol, said his client was denied chance to defend himself.
Chol argued that the crime does not amount to murder and he would challenge this on Friday.
“When an accused commits an offense after he or she loses self-control due to great provocation, he is entitled to benefit from that defense. And as a result, the crime would not stand as a murder. It would come as a man-slaughter. He would not be sentenced to death,” Chol said.
