A High Court in Bor town of Jonglei State on Monday sentenced two men to death by hanging after they were found guilty of murder.
In December last year, police in Jonglei arrested four men on the suspicion that they killed 25-year-old John Bol Dut while herding his cows in the outskirts of Bor.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, John Yel Aleu, the president of the High Court in the state, said they found two of the accused guilty of the murder on Monday.
"The two accused Kuorwel Manyok, 28, and Chol Manyiel, 35, were found guilty of beating up the deceased to death using a stick, and then they took his two cows. So, the court took its decision under section 206, Penal Code Act 2008. The evidence which linked the accused to the murder includes the stolen cows, the stick they use, and eyewitnesses," he explained.
The High Court judge pointed out that the convicts have 15 days to appeal the verdict.
“During the court hearings, the two pleaded not guilty. But the court convicted them based on the evidence. So it is their right to appeal the ruling within 15 days starting Monday 12 October 2020,” he said.
When asked about the use of hanging as the death penalty, John Yel said the court will continue to use the law until overturned by the parliament.
“As a judge, police, or prosecutor, we cannot say the law is wrong because it exists in our constitution. Yes, internationally, hanging is forbidden but this requires our parliament to repeal death by hanging,” he said.
On the verdict, Malueth Nyok, a relative of the deceased, said they will appeal the ruling, saying it was unfair.
For his part, Daniel Deng Anyang, a civil society activist in Bor, welcomed the court verdict, saying it will deter criminals in Jonglei.