Court adjourns Rev. Maring murder trial after two bail recipients fail to appear

Acourt sitting at Juba Central Prison has adjourned the trial of six suspects accused of killing Reverend Christopher Maring, a senior cleric of the African Inland Church, to November 19 after two of the accused, who had been released on bail, failed to appear.

The trial began on Thursday, November 5, with the prosecution scheduled to present its opening statement and hear from the investigator and the complainant.

Prosecutor Lilian Gorge told Eye Radio that presiding Judge Peter Mazen adjourned the proceedings following the absence of the two accused persons.

Gorge said the prosecution asked the court to establish the circumstances under which the two suspects were granted bail.

She said the six accused are facing charges under Sections 48, 206, 72 and 305 of the South Sudan Penal Code Act, 2008, relating to murder, robbery, use of firearms and other offences.

According to Gorge, police used mobile phone tracking to trace and arrest the suspects. She said one of the accused had fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo but was later arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

“The session today was scheduled to hear the prosecution’s opening statement, as well as from the investigator and the complainant. However, the judge adjourned the proceedings because two of the accused persons, who had been granted bail, were absent,” Gorge said.

She added that the prosecution requested an adjournment to allow the court to establish the circumstances surrounding the bail granted to the two accused.

Reverend Maring was killed at his residence in Gudele, Juba, in January 2026 after armed men reportedly broke into his home and attacked him.

According to accounts of the incident, the clergyman was beaten and shot several times after responding to disturbances inside the house.

One of the attackers was reportedly wounded by a stray bullet during the incident. He was later arrested and taken to hospital for treatment, while five others reportedly escaped.

The trial is expected to resume on November 19.