Special Court admits digital evidence in Nasir trial, case adjourned to Friday

2026-03-02 - 14:08

JUBA, South Sudan (Eye Radio) – The Special Court trying suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven others made a key ruling on Monday, admitting a contested digital forensic report into evidence despite objections from the defense team. The 56th session of the trial focused on a technical report submitted by a digital forensic expert from South Africa. Last week, defense lawyers challenged the document, pointing out inconsistent dates and arguing that these discrepancies undermined the integrity of the evidence. Judge Stephen Simon Isaac, part of the three-judge panel, announced that the court had performed a “careful and serious” review of the materials. The court dismissed the defense’s appeal to block the document and formally admitted it as Prosecution Exhibit 9-H. While the judges accepted the report now, they clarified that they will thoroughly examine its contents again before making a final judgment. The court also admitted Document 9-I, which confirms the professional qualifications of the South African expert. Previously, judges had criticized the prosecution for disorganized filings, noting missing page numbers and unclear references. The expert had to resubmit the report to meet the court’s standards. Following the ruling, a debate broke out over how much time the defense should have to study the report before questioning the expert. Defense lawyer Kur Lual Kur requested a seven-day adjournment until Monday, March 9, 2026. He argued that the team needed a full week to prepare for the cross-examination. Prosecutor Ajo Onyo’Ohisa Issa strongly opposed the request. He argued that a week-long delay was unnecessary and costly, noting that the South African expert has been in Juba for a month and needs to attend to professional and medical commitments back home. He described the request as a “waste of time,” noting that the court had already shown “procedural mercy” to the defense. After listening to both sides, Presiding Judge James Alala Deng chose a middle ground. He adjourned the trial until Friday, March 6, 2026, giving the defense four days to prepare.