A 12-year-old girl killed her father after a disagreement over unmet Christmas demands in Longechuk County in Upper Nile State last week, a local official said.
The incident occurred on December 12.
Dak Tut Dey, the county commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj Friday that the deceased met his fate while trying to discipline his 12-year-old daughter who was infuriated that he did not buy her Christmas clothes.
“What happened in Majok Boma of Malual Payam was that a girl requested her father to buy her Christmas clothes but her father told her that he did not have money for clothes because he was getting married. That left the young girl in a bad mood,” he said.
“So, while the father tried to discipline the girl because she was not in a good mood, the girl resisted being beaten. They fought and she speared her father to death,” Tut added.
The commissioner said the girl has not been arrested because she is a minor and that a ritual will be conducted as per their culture.
“We did not arrest the girl because she is too young. She is now under the custody of her maternal uncle. We called the side of the mother and the deceased father and we realize that there is no problem,” the official noted. “What will happen next is that the girl will stay with her maternal uncle until some traditions are performed,” he said.
According to the Child Act, 2008, Chapter (10) Section (138) states that it is to be presumed that a child between ages twelve and fourteen lacks, the capacity to appreciate the difference between right and wrong, and cannot act in accordance with full appreciation unless it is proved beyond reasonable doubt that such a child has that appreciation and is able to act in accordance with appreciation.
Also, Section 49 of the Penal Code 2003, provides as follows: No act is an offense, which is done (a) by a child of ten years and below; (b) by a child above ten years of age but under fourteen who has not attained sufficient maturity of understanding to judge the nature and consequences of such act; (c) the provision of this section shall not affect any civil claim by the aggrieved party against the guardian of the child.