Rumbek, 07 February 2022 / 3:26 PM (Catholic Radio Network)
High Court of South Sudan in Juba on Monday suspended the court hearing of Bishop-elect Christian Carlassare, to February 8th 2022 at 10:30AM.
The suspension came after statements of the accused were read, several evidence including 2 AK47,13 used bullets, 4 unused bullets and a flash disk that considered to be having some videos taken from the crime scene at the bishop’s compound were presented to the court.
The evidences were presented to presiding Judge Justice Alexander Sebur Subek by Khamis Alfred, Police officer who holds the case file and statements of the six suspects.
The Judge suspended the Monday court hearing because there was no projector or any monitor to display the video clip.
Malith M Jok Thiang Wundit, defend lawyer of the six accused suspects, says, he has no clue about the source of the video, but complement the video to be played.
He continues to ask for justice and speedy verdict to the accused since they have taken a year in prison.
“We continue to ask for justice to prevail and speedy trial to the accused since then they have taken almost one year in jail and one have developed toothache”, the defend lawyer stresses.
Monsignor Christian Carlassare’s court hall was full with huge number of people including journalists, activists, army officials, advocates and practicing lawyers.
On February 3 CRN report, the lawyer defending the six suspects who include Fr. John Mathiang of Rumbek Diocese, advocates for the speeding up of the case, and “justice to prevail.”
“We need justice to prevail; the case should be speeded up and the accused to be availed fair and free trial”, CRN has quoted Malith Jok Thiang as saying about the case.
Mons. Carlassare was shot in both legs on April 26 last year. He received initial treatment at the health facility under the auspices of Doctors with Africa CUAMM in Rumbek and later airlifted to Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, where he was admitted at The Nairobi Hospital.
In an ACI Africa video recording from his hospital bed on April 27, the Italian-born member of the Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ) described the shooting as life-threatening but called for reconciliation and “justice with the same heart of God” among the people of God in Rumbek Diocese.
In June last year, police in South Sudan’s Lakes State arrested the second of “the potential suspects” directly involved in the shooting of the Bishop-elect.
Arrested on 11 June 2021, the suspect brought the number of those detained following the April 26 early morning shooting to six individuals.
Before his Episcopal appointment on 8 March 2021, Mons. Carlassare had ministered in South Sudan’s Malakal Diocese since his arrival in the country in 2005. His episcopal ordination had been scheduled to take place on Pentecost Sunday, 23 May 2021.
In an interview with ACI Africa a day after he had been shot, Mons. Carlassare recalled advocating for “forgiveness that is not just being naïve”.
‘Embrace human fraternity to stop endless destruction’, Pope tells globe
Pope Francis, urged all people to embrace human fraternity in order to overcome the discriminations and conflicts that divide humanity.
He in a message to mark the 2nd International Day of Human Fraternity over the weekend, said fraternity can act as a “bulwark against hatred, violence, and injustice”, Vatican News reported.
The Holy Father said all people, regardless of religion or creed, are called to promote a “culture of peace” that welcomes all, while encouraging development and solidarity.
He said “we all live under the same heaven” and that we are all God’s children, no matter the colour of our skin or social class.
“Every person has a role to play in making the world a better place, by helping others raise “their eyes and prayers to heaven”, the Holy Father said.
He said, we must remember that we are not saved alone. We must extend our hands “to celebrate our unity in diversity – unity, not uniformity”.
The Pope explained that “The time of fraternity has arrived, so we should strive to “live in solidarity with one another.”
He also lamented “third world war being fought destroying lives, forcing children to endure hunger and suppress educational opportunities.
The Bishop-elect “called to the government and the community and all the people of Rumbek asking for forgiveness: to forgive those that committed this act, forgiveness that is not just being naive and leaving aside errors but correct errors not with violence, but with dialogue and forgiveness,” he said during the 27 April 2021 interview.
He added, “I feel that the community of Rumbek needs much forgiveness to be able to dialogue and to come together.”
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Matthew Remijio of South Sudan’s Wau Diocese as the Apostolic Administrator of Rumbek Diocese on 5 May 2021 with the mandate to temporarily govern the Diocese until the Bishop-elect is “healed, ordained and takes over the governance of that Diocese.”
Fr. Mathiang, one of the six suspects in the ongoing case, had been at the helm of Rumbek Diocese as Diocesan Coordinator since 27 December 2013.