A picture of Babu Emmanuel Lokiri in court after the judge sentenced him to death by hanging, Monday, October 26, 2020 | Credit | Michael Daniel/Eye Radio

Babu Emmanuel Lokiri, the young man accused of killing the three siblings at Rock City in Juba on 1 August 2020, has been sentenced to death by hanging.

The High Court announced the verdict on Monday morning.

The presiding judge, Douth Kulang, found Babu, 24, guilty of the gruesome killing of 9-year-old Naomi, 7-year-old Blessing and 4-year old Nor Edward.

“The court has found that the accused person is guilty of charges of murder under Section 206 of the Penal Code Act 2008,” Judge Kulang announced.

According to Article 206, premeditated murder is considered if the act that caused the death was committed with the intention of causing the death or if the perpetrator of the act knew that the death was a probable result rather than merely a possible result of an act or any bodily harm that was intended to cause it with the same act.

Babu used a machete to end the lives, the court heard.

At the final session, the court asked the defendant’s lawyer, Gamer Elden Mohamed Al Hassan, if he had any reasons to reduce the penalty.

Mohamed said his client – a medical student – should get a leaner sentence given that he could help the country through his work when he graduates as a doctor.

But Boutros Yai, the public prosecutor, rejected the request – arguing that the accused has another brother and that he depends on his parents and he does not support any person.

Then the judge consulted the victims’ parents on whether they would forgive Babu, who earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges.

However, they refused and requested the court to punish Babu with “any sentence harder than hanging”.

“The convict, Babu Emmanuel Lokiri, will be hanged by the neck till death,” he added.

The case will be taken to the Supreme Court for confirmation after 15 days of appeal.

The judge also ordered that the murder weapon be “destroyed in the criminal court by the court police”.

The murders angered South Sudanese all over the world, including President Salva Kiir who promised to ensure that the killer faced justice.