Soroti Murder Trial: Defence Withdraws Witnesses Over Safety Concerns

Six individuals accused in the tragic murder of Joan Faith Apio, a six-year-old pupil at Jozan Nursery and Primary School, have decided against presenting defence witnesses. The decision was made due to significant concerns over the potential safety and economic repercussions for those who might testify.

The accused, including school directors Joseph Okedi and Suzan Vivian Ariokot Okedi, headteacher James Edoket, cook Valentine Opio, matron Osula Adong, and police officer John Bosco Obotol, have all pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. Apio was discovered deceased in the school’s latrine on February 5, 2025.

The High Court in Soroti, presided over by Justice Boniface Wamala, granted the defence a final adjournment until August 10, 2026, to submit their remaining evidence. This step follows the court’s earlier determination that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the defendants.

Initially, some of the accused had intended to call witnesses to bolster their defence. They had also sought to present CCTV footage from Pride Bank and Ariokot’s business premises to establish an alibi, suggesting she was processing a loan at the time of the incident. Additionally, footage from Soroti Regional Referral Hospital was requested to challenge the testimony of a prosecution witness.

However, the defence team informed the court that their potential witnesses had withdrawn, expressing apprehension about public backlash and the potential jeopardy to their employment. This led the defence to abandon witness testimony altogether, shifting their focus to obtaining and presenting the requested CCTV footage and other documentary evidence.

The court has been informed that directives have been issued to the hospital and the bank to retrieve any available footage. The trial is set to resume on August 10, 2026, with the defence expected to present its final evidence.

Source: The Observer (Uganda)