The Gender-based Violence (GBV) Court in Juba on Friday adjourned the hearing of the case of Agany Kut Achuil who deliberately blinded his teenage daughter in April to Monday next week.
Mary Akuot Agany, a minor was deliberately blinded by her father, Agany Kut Achuil in Abiook Village in Tonj East County, Warrap State. Agany Kut Achuil allegedly took his daughter to a forest on 2 April and pricked her eyes because she was wayward, joined the wrong groups, eloped when she was 13, and brought shame to the family.
During the session presided over by GBV Court Judge Garang Ajak, the defense team led by Counsel Ukongo Benson Athia requested the court to adjourn the case to Monday because their senior counsel is out of the country and expected back over the weekend.
“I am here on behalf of Anthony Ayok Chol who is now on the way to Canada and we have requested the court to adjourn so that Ayok who is soon arriving will take over from me on Monday,” Ukongo told reporters outside court after the adjournment. “So, the session is adjourned to Monday and we welcome that.”
Initially, the presiding Judge, Ajak, wanted the case to proceed as the session was for reading the prosecution’s statement but the defense rejected it, saying they needed their senior counsel to be present from the beginning of the case.
The prosecution’s opening statement will now be delivered on Monday.