Five suspects have been charged in connection with the gruesome murder of five people, all members of one family who perished in a fire incident in Nwoya district last week.
The suspects appeared before Julius Mwesigye, the Gulu Grade One Magistrate on Monday afternoon each charged with five counts of murder by arson contrary to section 188 and 189 of the penal code act.
They were charged in connection with the death of; John Kennedy Oketta, 45, his wife, Agness Apiyo, 32, and three of their biological children.
Prosecution led by Patrick Adoko stated that on January 7, 2017 at Kal ‘A’ village, Koch Goma Sub County in Nwoya on Saturday morning at around 2AM, the suspects set a house on fire leading to the death of five people.
The suspects are; Patrick Okot Ayweri, the man who was arrested immediately after the gruesome act and David Livingstone Lakony, 64, a Gulu businessman.
Others are; Santo Oryem alias Kavio, 47, Olanya Charles, 46, and Morris Opiyo Lalam, alias Agatta, aged 22, all are local farmers.
The Magistrate’s Court did not allow them to enter any plea explaining that the accusations against the suspects was capital in nature and only the High Court has jurisdiction over it.
Magistrate Mwesigye remanded the suspects to Gulu Central Government Prisons until January 18, 2017 when they are expected to appear before the same court for the mention of their case.
Police say the suspects were picked after preliminary investigation found the suspects to have had a hand in the murder.
Aswa region police spokesman Jimmy Patrick Okema said the five suspects had been subjected to mental health tests.
