A special tribunal in Sudan’s Sennar State established for the trial of suspected members of the Sudan People Liberation Army-North has concluded the defence witnesses phase after it finished hearing of 62 defence witnesses on Wednesday.

The court, chaired by Judge Abdel Moneim Yunis, set 13 March for pleadings and final verdicts. The group of 78 SPLA-N suspects facing charges under the provisions of articles 21, 50 and 51 of the penal code and article 6 of the anti-terrorism law.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, lawyer Awad Pasha, a member of the Sudanese Organization for the Defence of Rights and Freedoms, said the court is likely to rule in the cases on 13 March. He also noted the prosecutor came up with a request for hearings of more prosecution witnesses.