The Sherikat incident special court during its premature end of session on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 in Juba, South Sudan. Credit| Michael Daniel/Eye Radio

The trial of suspects accused of killing people during last year’s Sherikat incident begun Wednesday morning in Juba.

23 suspects were to appear before a panel of three judges today.

The special court was to confirm charges and listen to findings of investigators into the deadly incident which resulted in the killing of six people last year.

The June 3 incident sparked by an alleged land dispute also resulted in the killing of an SSPDF officer – Lual Akook also known as Marine –who was related to President Salva Kiir.

Following the incident, hundreds of people took to the streets in protest of the killings.

On June 4, the president established a seven-member committee to investigate the incident.

In their submission in September, the committee said the Sherikat incident was the consequence of a dispute over a land that was contested by two people – a military officer and a civilian.

It established that there was no planned attack that resulted in the killing of Lual Marine.

After the incident, several people were arrested.

The committee recommended that the suspects should stand trial in an open civilian court for everyone to understand that justice is being rendered.

The special court opened in Juba.

However, the session was postponed after the judges noticed that the accused were not present for the trials.

The legal counsel Sabri Wani Lado requested the court to adjourn after only 3 defendants showed up.

The presiding judge, Douth Kulang read the decision of the panel of judges.

“The court session has been adjourned due to the absence of the complainer, the doctor and neutral witnesses, including the defendants. They are 23 suspects. The guarantors must bring the defendants as ordered by the panel of the court judges. This is addressed to the military force director, the military intelligence and the national security service to bring the defendants from their units and submit them to the police. Secondly, the court directs that their bail be cancelled because of the failure by the defendants to show up today. They should be arrested or their guarantors. Thirdly, the court shall resume on March 1st, 2021 at 10am.”

The special court on the Sherikat incident is being heard by three judges; Douth Kolung, Mujahed Abdallah Akol and Joshua Lado.