A sign against rape - courtesy image

NIMULE, Eastern Equatoria (Eye Radio) — The High Court in Nimule is set to deliver its final verdict on Thursday, December 19, 2025, in the horrific case involving a 21-year-old man accused of the rape and murder of a 7-year-old girl.

According to Advocate, Godfrey Victor Bullen, the crime, which has been described as a “red alarm” for gender-based violence, occurred on February 16, 2025, in Nimule.

In a police report, the adult suspect took the young victim to the Anyama riverside, where he raped and then killed her using a knife.

Advocate Godfrey Victor Bulla, Executive Director for the Justice and Human Rights Observatory, confirmed that the accused confessed to both the rape and the murder during the court proceedings.

The court found the accused committed the crimes and framed the charges under the South Sudan Penal Code, 2008, specifically, section 206 (Murder), and section 247 (Rape).

In a critical step before sentencing, the court has consulted the deceased’s family regarding the final penalty.

Advocate Bulla told Eye Radio on Monday, December 15, “The court now has given a chance to the relative of the deceased to go and return on the 19th December, where the court will pronounce its final decision as to whether to confirm, convict him to death or any other sentence.”

Bulla attributed the initial long delay in the case, which occurred throughout most of the year, to the absence of a resident High Court Judge in Nimule.

However, the case was swiftly presided over following the recent arrival of a new High Court Judge, allowing the trial to reach completion within the judge’s two-month period in Nimule.

The court session that finalized the verdict date was held on Friday (December 12, 2025), and the victim’s family is scheduled to return to court on the 19th for the final sentencing pronouncement.