THE AFRICA TIMES | SOUTH SUDAN —
Court Ruling on Defence Statements
JUBA — The Special Court hearing the case against First Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-accused has denied a prosecution application. This request sought to allow the remaining defendants to provide written defence statements instead of giving oral testimony.
The court delivered this ruling during its 97th session at Freedom Hall in Juba. Judges dismissed the prosecution’s argument that written statements would expedite the proceedings.
Continued Oral Testimony Required
By rejecting the application, the court mandated that the remaining defendants continue to present their defence orally. This decision preserves the existing trial procedure.
Following the ruling, the court resumed the examination of the third accused, Gatwech Lam Puoch
