The Kator High Court in Juba has adjourned the murder case against a National Security officer accused of killing Sister Theresia Racková Veronika, the Director of St. Bakhita Health Center in Yei, on May 15, 2016. The case will resume on November 14th this year, when the presiding judge will deliver the final verdict.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Advocate James Paulino Lado, representing the deceased, explained the reason for the adjournment, saying, “The judgment was supposed to be passed today, but unfortunately, the administration of the National Security Service and the legal administration are occupied. The personnel responsible for bringing the accused to court have been assigned to a salary committee.”
He added that the security officer tasked with bringing the accused to court had travelled to the Bahr el Ghazal region.
Lado further noted that the November 14th session will be the final verdict. The case, which began in 2021, has experienced delays due to changes in judges.
Lado expressed his dissatisfaction with the extended timeline, stating, “It was very bad procedure because, as a former judge, I know that a case shouldn’t take two years to be finalized. This case has been tried by four or three judges, with the current judge being the fourth. These judge changes have hindered the case from progressing quickly.”
Lado assured the late nun’s family that justice would prevail, and the accused would face consequences for the crime.
Sr. Theresia Racková Veronika, a Holy Spirit Missionary Sister and medical professional, died at Kenya’s Nairobi Hospital on May 20, 2016, after being attacked and shot multiple times by a group of soldiers.
She succumbed to gunshot wounds on her hip and abdomen when the St. Bakhita Health Center Ambulance she was driving came under attack from armed soldiers.
Three suspected government soldiers were arrested in connection with the attack on the missionary nun.