Two families agree on blood compensation for a woman kill by Ram in Lakes

Authorities in Lakes state’s Rumbek East County have settled the case of a 40-year-old woman killed by Ram, a male sheep who attacked the deceased in Akuelyol village.

Official says the two families have agreed on blood compensation. The sheep’s owner has agreed to pay five cows based on local understanding initiated by community elders.

The controversial story is trended on social media after traditional leaders sentenced the sheep to 3 years in jail for killing the woman.

Police spokesperson in Lakes State says the male sheep attacked a woman and broke her ribs, causing her death.

Paul Adhong Majak is the Administrator of Puchong Payam in Rumbek East County. He says the compensation was done based on the mutual understanding of the two parties.

“The deceased is the auntie to Ram’s owner, and they are neighbors to pay the owner of Ram says he customary laws of Lakes that give the killer to compensate the decease is not good I cannot provide a ram for the family as a blood compensation to auntie so I will pay five cows.”

The Sheep owner is Mr. Duony Manyang Dhal, from Papalbek Clan in Lakes state.  He expressed readiness to pay five cows to the family of Late Adhieu Chaping to compensate for her blood.

The deceased’s biological son, Mayom Mapuor Dedeng, has welcomed the move, saying it is a part of the Dinka tradition to compensate if such loss occurred between the relatives.

The sheep sentenced to three years in prison will be transferred from Pacong Police Station to Military Prison at Aduel County’s Headquarters of Rumbek East County.

According to the tradition Rumbek Community practicing, when a person is killed by a cow or ram the deceased will be compensated with that animal which committed the murdered a person, but this case was treated differently by owner paying 5 cows as blood compensation.

The penal code of South Sudan stipulated that blood compensation must be done with animal that killed a person and animal is free not arrested or jailed.

Authority said the act is to calm the situation and avoid tension between the two families

Both families signed a commitment document to avoid disagreement, which Police and community leaders witnessed.