Oct 16, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — The Juba court has acquitted Alice Noel, the mother of the principal Babu Emmanuel Lokiri, who was co-accused from the charges against murder case of the three siblings in Rock City, Juba.
Mrs. Noel collapsed during the cross-examination of her son, Babu; however, she stood up until the judge was convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that she had no connection to the murder.
“After all the investigations and charges we have brought against you after all this time, we have found out and decided that your mother will no longer appear with you as the co-accused in this court. We have seen her suffering and we need only you. The case against her is dismissed,” Justice Duoth Kulang told Emmanuel Lokiri, the principal accused.
“The court now states to you that on the 1st August 2020 you went armed with a knife to a home in the Rock City area and killed the three girls namely Lydia Edward, 9, Blessing Edward, 7, and 4-year-old sister Nura Edward. And they died on the spot,” the judge added.
Emmanuel Lokiri was then asked if he understood the charges that were read for him of which he said yes.
When the judge asked him if he killed the three siblings, Emmanuel Babu Lokiri replied, “No, I did not.”
“The second accused was just shocked. They said she washed bloodstained clothes but she clearly said under oath that she did not wash any bloodstained shirt. So that is why she was released by the court,” said Simon Akeny, the lawyer of the acquitted.
Mr. Lokiri’s attorney, Simon Akeny, said that his client was not at the scene of the crime at the time and neither did he carry out the murders.
Simon Akeny said that he will present evidence to show Lokiri was at home adding that they have three witnesses who can ascertain that.
“We have no problem with the court and will present our witnesses in the next hearing on Monday to prove that the accused was not present when the killing took place and he was not even present at the scene of the crime,” said Akeny. “He was at home and this will show the court that the accused has no connection with this case.”
“We have three witnesses. The sister, Holy Emmanuel who was present at home, Emmanuel Lokiri, the father of the accused, and Chaplain Nyarsuk, an uncle of the accused who is a Prison Officer. You will all come and see and hear from them on that day,” Akeny added.
Kur Lual, the lawyer of the murdered children’s family and Boutros Yai, the counsel for public rights at the ministry of justice have welcomed the acquittal of the second accused.
“She has been released from all charges in front of the court,” Boutros Yai said.
