BREAKING: University student accused of Rock city killing pleads not guilty

JUBA – A court in South Sudan’s capital Juba has found Babu Emmanuel Lokiri, the Juba University student accused of killing three children at a Rock City home in August, innocent during a verdict passed on Thursday afternoon.

In early August, Emmanuel was arrested by the police after three small siblings Lydia Edward, 9, Blessings Edward, 7, and their 4-year-old sister Nura Edward, were found murdered at their home in Rock city.

Their mother had go to a hospital nearby to visit a family member who was then receiving medical attention there.

A few days later, police in Juba said Emmanuel, who happened to be a fourth-year Juba University medical student, has confessed to the crime.

Yesterday, on Tuesday, a key witness in the killing told the court that he didn’t know who was the killer until the police arrested Emmanuel.

The witness said he learned about the crime from a relative who also said he learned about the crime from someone who learned from someone anonymous.

The witness also said he informed the police not of who killed the children, but to report what had happened.

Speaking in the court today, Emmanuel said he had indeed confessed to the police because he was under duress, suggesting to the judge that he was forced to confess to the crime which has now been found he hasn’t committed.

The judge then pronounced Emmanuel not guilty.

Prior to the judgment, the mother of the parent of the children who are separate told the court that they do not have problems with family of Emmanuel, saying they have good relationship with each other.

The mother was on Monday arrested at Juba airport trying to leave the country on fake documents, triggering police to questions her on why he want to leave the country during a crucial moment.

It is not clear whether Emmanuel will be released today following the court decision.