Gulu high court judge Vincent Okwanga has set free a 35 year old Amuru farmer charged with the murder of his brother.
Patrick Akena, a resident of corner Lukung in Otwee Town Council in Amuru was charged with the killing of his brother David Kidega in a fight over a woman.
Prosecution led by Patrick Akoko stated that on April 13, 2014 at Corner Lukung in Otwee Town Council, Amuru district, Akena speared Kidega to death.
Akena’s brother, Kidega had been in prison but on release he (Akena) came home and found his wife, one Auma, 7-months pregnant. When he inquired, he found out that his brother (Akena) was responsible for the pregnancy.
Akena admitted that indeed he was indeed responsible for Auma’s pregnancy and a cleansing ritual was performed by the family in line with Acholi tradition.
But this did not go well with Kidega who decided to take matters in his own hands. Armed with a spear and a pickaxe, Kidega stormed the home of Akena, 4kms away and set his huts on fire. In the ensuring fight, Kidega sustained a stabbing on his right upper body between the ribs and died instantly.
In his ruling on Wednesday, the judge ruled that despite the prosecution producing six witnesses, it had failed to pin the suspect (Akena) and he subsequently failed to prove that there is prima fasi case against the suspect. The judge subsequently set Akena free.
