Convicts hearing a court judgement. (Photo: Michael Daniel).

The Gender-Based Violence Court in Juba sentenced a 25-year-old man to 7 years in jail for culpable homicide and acquitted his three associates due to insufficient evidence.

Niat Kom Niat 25 was arrested in June 2020 for killing Yain Mach Nabil in a gang fight in the street.

Kom was arrested with his three associates Peter Aweem Ajongdod, Dut Afing Paul, Ayoum Santino all aged 21,21, and 24 respectively.

According to the prosecutor’s statement, the group to which the defendants belong, and the victim’s group, quarreled leading to violence.

The prosecutor narrated that during the fight, the first defendant (now convict) hit the victim in the head twice with a machete. The victim reportedly felt unconscious and died immediately.

Medical report indicate that the victim died as a result of the head injury, which caused internal bleeding that led to his death.

Before arrangement in the court, the convict confessed that he was defending his colleague who was being chased by the victim. His three associates, however, pleaded not guilty.

Reading the verdict on Monday, Judge Garang Ajak Deng found the accused Niat Kom Niat guilty of violating section 210 of the South Sudan Penal Act 2008.

Gudge Garang sentenced Kom to 7 years in jail and ordered him to pay 51 head of cows as compensation according to Dink Bor customary traditions.

“I, the judge, imposes upon you the following penalty: imprisonment for seven years, starting from the date of your arrest in June 2020, for violating section 210 of the Penal Code of 2008, and pay a fine of 500,000 South Sudanese pounds in the event of non-payment. Imprisonment for one year.”

“The offender shall pay 51 heads of livestock. As compensation to the victim according to Dink Bor traditionally to be paid through the civil procedure, you have 15 days to appeal against the verdict.”

In an interview with Eye Radio, the three acquitted individuals expressed their joy and advised the youth to stay away from crime,

Released after languishing in jail for four years, they lamented the years they have wasted and urged others to stay away from criminal activities.

“I would like to advise young people after wasting four years of my life in prison. I tell them to stay away from crime and disputes, and I ask them to focus on education because without certificates you will not have an opportunity to work in the future,” said Peter Awem.

“We wasted the efforts and money of our children because they left their jobs and started coming to the prison to follow the trials. I would like to tell you that the work of the gangs will not benefit us in any way but will end our lives in prison.”

“Since my arrest and entry into prison in the year 2020, I have spent four years of my life without education. I would like to tell you that life inside the prison is difficult,” said Dut Paul.

He further decried poor conditions at the prison, claiming many have died.

“There are no places to sleep, there is not enough food and no treatment. Life is getting more difficult day after day. Many have died in prison. I believe that after I leave, I will not join any gang. I don’t want to go back to prison again.”