The trial of suspects accused of killing civilians during last year’s Gumbo-Sherikat incident was adjourned again for the fourth time after the main accused were unable to attend court.

Over 20 defendants had been due to face the court in Juba today, but the date has been put back to the 15th of March.

The court was to uphold charges and listen to findings of investigations into the June incident where at least six people were killed in Juba’s Gumbo-Sherikat neighbourhood.

The incident sparked by wrangles over a disputed piece of land also resulted in the killing of a military officer, Lt. Col. Lual Akook Wol, who was identified as a distant relative of President Salva Kiir. The late Lt. Col. Lual Akook was accused of allowing his soldiers to shoot civilians indiscriminately.

The presiding judge Duoth Kulang said the hearing has been adjourned to the 15th of March because the main accused in the case did not appear before the court.

"The first reason for the adjournment of the hearing is that the court wants to make sure that the accused from Group A and their exhibits are brought. Secondly, the fourth accused from Group B, who is one of the main accused, is not present here," Kulang said.

"On the 2nd of March, the court received a letter from the army chief of staff saying Maj. Gen. Garang Akook should continue appearing before the court. So, we want to inform you [Garang Akook] that your commander is aware of the court proceedings against you," he added.

According to the presiding judge, the Director-General of the External Security Bureau of the National Security Service, Gen. Thomas Duoth Guet, has promised to bring the fourth accused before the court next week.

"On the 6th of March, the court received a letter from the Director-General of the External Security Bureau saying that Brigadier General, Majier Abdallah, will appear before the court next week. The security said Majier did not come because his child is sick in Kampala," Kulang explained.    

Chol Mach, a defense lawyer for two accused from Group B, said the court session was adjourned again after several main accused failed to appear before the court.

"Although their defense lawyers are present, Article 219 of the Penal Code says court proceedings cannot start when the accused is not present," Chol Mach said. "We are happy with the procedures, but we condemn the prosecution and the investigators because you cannot refer the case to the court before bringing the exhibits and strong evidence first," he said.

Sabri Wani Ladu, head of the legal administration in Central Equatoria State, said: "The session was adjourned because there was a challenge in bringing the exhibits and the weapons used in the committing of the crime. Also, some of the accused are not in the country, so they have not been arrested."

Sabri said that the authorities will exert efforts to arrest the accused who have not yet been arrested.