The family of the late Nyankiir Lual has lodged an appeal against the court’s decision to sentence her husband, Simon Marial, to life imprisonment for her murder in the Lemon Gaba suburb of Juba last year.
Prosecution Counsel Ajak Abdulkerim informed Radio Tamazuj on Thursday evening that they were dissatisfied with the verdict and had decided to appeal to the higher court.
Counsel Abdulkerim explained that the family seeks to have the life sentence overturned and replaced with a death sentence, in accordance with their wishes. He stated, “The family is not content with the judgment. They argue that the defendant married their daughter without fulfilling the dowry payment, which they perceive as a loss. They do not wish to see the criminal imprisoned for 20 years with no compensation. As the family lawyer, I am working in accordance with their desires, and we filed an appeal to the Appeal Court for Greater Equatoria on July 5th.”
Abdulkerim further elaborated on their appeal, stating, “In the appeal, we are requesting the court to review the sentence under section 206. We also seek to overturn the life imprisonment and instead impose the death penalty by hanging.”
Agor Lual Mabior, the deceased’s brother, expressed his support for the appeal, citing the failure of his brother-in-law to fulfill his marital obligations, such as paying the bride price and providing proper care for his late sister. “I want to emphasize that no one from his family appeared until the day of the court’s judgment. It was only then that his brother appeared, whom I met briefly before he returned to Wau,” Lual stated.
The crime occurred when Marial stabbed his wife, Alakiir Lual Mabior, 27 times during a quarrel at his in-law’s home in Juba’s Lemon Gaba suburb on October 11, 2022. Following the incident, he fled to Bor town in Jonglei State, then to Guolyar of Awerial County in Lakes State, before eventually being apprehended in Cueibet County within the same state. He was subsequently brought back to Juba, where he faced charges and was arraigned in court in April.