The High Court in Aweil town, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, on Monday commenced the hearing of a case in which a 6-year-old girl was defiled, murdered and her body disposed of in a pit latrine.

On 3 May, the Aweil town police apprehended a Sudanese trader, 42-year-old Saber Abu Sam, for defilement and murder, and two of his colleagues for concealment of multiple crimes.

The initial court hearing was presided over by Justice Abraham Majur Lat.

According to the principal investigator, a Sudanese trader, Saber Abdalla Abusam defiled, raped, and murdered a minor in Ayuang residential area on 3 May and his co-accused, Omer Mohamud Omer and Hamad Hassan tried to conceal the crimes.

Suhaila Deng Adim, one of several lawyers who have offered pro bono legal services to the bereaved family, said that prevailing evidence faults the accused trio.

“We have come for the first session and we heard from the investigator who presented evidence and items connected with the criminal incident were presented as you all witnessed,” she said. “Momentarily, we cannot predict what will happen but we leave it to the court.”

She added: “On our part, we will present all the available evidence of what these criminals committed the crimes.”

The first accused, Saber Abdalla Abusam, told the court he had no money to hire a defense lawyer. His co-accused also had no legal representation but the government assigned them legal counsel as per the interim constitution.

However, a lawyer, Isaac Deng Athian, who said he was representing the primary accused, told Radio Tamazuj after the hearing that there was no concrete evidence against his client.

“I am defending the first accused, Saber Abdalla Abusam. As a defense lawyer, I cannot mention evidence today because it was an initial procedure,” he explained. “We heard from the investigator and then the complainant. There was nothing concrete enough yet to justify conviction until we hear from witnesses.”

Aweil Women Association chairperson, Elizabeth Ajok Atak, called for an expeditious trial.

“Our call is that the justice should not be delayed and we are happy now that the court procedures have started,” she said.