Judge's gavel in courtroom - (Photo: Courtesy).

The High Court in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State, has sentenced five men to death by hanging for their involvement in robbery and killing of a man in May 2024.

The Court presided over by Judge Obaj Dinyong Anyong also sentenced another suspect named Moses Andrew to seven years in prison for attempted robbery.

The death row inmates are Yassin Assak Paul, John Ohide, Oting Benny, Ramadan Abubakar, and Joseph Lewis.

The judge has ordered the transfer of the six men, aged between 19 and 23 to Juba National Prison in Central Equatoria State.

The convicted individuals are part of a criminal gang known as the “Old Group” in Torit.

They were found guilty of attacking the victim with machetes and a hammer, ultimately causing his death by severe head injuries.

The court established their guilt under Section 206 of the Penal Code after reviewing evidence from both the prosecution and the Defense.

Godfrey Victor Bulla, Executive Director for Justice and Human Rights Observatory Heads and the victim’s lawyer, said the court delivered its judgment after finding the individuals guilty of committing the crime,

“These gang members killed a man by cutting his head and hitting his head by hammer, this happened as a result of the gang went and attacked the disease with machetes,” he said.

Before passing the death sentence, the court sought suggestions from the victim’s close relatives, as required by law.

The family, including the victim’s father, opted for the death penalty over blood compensation. Consequently, the court enforced the death sentences in accordance with their wishes.

“After the court heard the prosecution case and the defense case, the court found the five men guilty of committing murder, as required under Section 206 of the penal court.”

“The court, before imposing the final order, must seek the opinion of the close relative of the disease) as to whether the opted for blood compensation or the opted for the execution of death sentence by hanging on the convict.”