Investigator tables evidence on Bishop’s shooting

The investigating officer digging up the case of the shooting of a Rumbek Catholic Diocese cleric Fr. Christian Carlassare has yesterday presented his finding during the second hearing before the High Court Judge, Alexander Sabor Subek, angled on two suspects said to have been involved in shooting the bishop-elect.

The investigators’ report about the second last suspect showed him confessing that he shot the bishop-elect and revealing others. However, the suspect maintained that some words in the statement as read by the investigator were not his.

The statement showed that the reason for shooting the bishop was basically to scare him so that their relatives, who were also priests, could take over the seat of the bishop because they had qualifications for the position.

It continued that two people who planned and took action against the bishop included the second last suspect and the last suspect in the investigator’s report. It also read that the architect of the shooting was the last suspect, but the last suspect said he was the first to shoot.

When asked whether the statement was his, the second last suspect claimed that some statements were doctored.

The statement attributed to the last suspect in the investigator’s report read that he was part of the plan to shoot the bishop-elect but claimed that another suspect shot the bishop-elect but he (the last suspect) retained his five bullets without shooting.

However, some of the suspects claimed the statements were not theirs. There are those who accepted some words and rejected other words in the statements presented by the investigator.

The claimants presented some pieces of evidence, including two Ak47, two cartridges, 2 ammunition boxes, clothes, shoes, phones, and bullets, among others.

The defendant’s lawyer Malith M. Jokthiang, said the pieces of evidence that were presented were not proof of a case as the case was still far from justification.

He appealed for his clients to be rendered a free and fair trial and that the process should be sped up, adding that they had been in prison for almost one year and justice should be served.

“Today’s session was good only that some of the things were missing, including the video to show that the victim really existed. The case is still on their side, if they bring the video and present that video to the victim, then we will go into issues after that,” Malith said.

“Today was only for the investigation hearing of the investigator. We are still behind on reaching into issues.” I cannot say there was evidence given because all they have presented, we are yet to challenge it and object to it through cross-examination by the investigator. We don’t know whether the video exists or it does not exist; we are not aware of it. At this stage, we believe our clients are free of all the charges.”

Further evidence will be provided today including the video depicting the scene by the claimant’s team.

Suspect confesses

Last week, one of the suspects confessed to having shot Carlassare but he did not give details during the opening session of the court proceedings.

The high court judge, Alexander Sabor Subek, during the opening session last week, said the case was still in its infancy as the second hearing was rescheduled for yesterday, Monday, February 7, 2022.

The defendant lawyer said they had a long way to go in the case, despite the fact that one of the suspects had already pleaded guilty.

 “It is yet to be concluded because today was only the confirmation of the accused names and other minor issues. But the next session will be for the hearing of the investigator,” said one of the counsels who represented the suspects.”

“We have not yet reached that stage of guilt or not guilty [plea taking]. These are preliminary stages. We are still far away from determining the facts. The only message (we have) is that we need justice to prevail, the case to be sped up and the accused to be accorded a fair and free trial,” the person said.

Shooting                                                                                                      

Carlassare was allegedly shot on April 25, 2021, after his appointment as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek on March 8, 2021, by Pope Francis. The post was vacant since 2011, after the untimely death of Bishop Caesar Mazzolari, who collapsed and died at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

Carlassare was to be installed as a bishop on May 23, 2021. After his shooting, he was flown to Kenya where he recuperated. He said he had forgiven his attackers and left for the Vatican.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit according to media reports said the shooting was a disgrace and called for an immediate investigation.

 “The reprehensible act of violence meted on him is unacceptable, and it must stop. I call upon all South Sudanese to condemn the criminals who carried out this heinous crime in the strongest terms possible,” the president noted.