Scene of crime officer exhibits jerrycan, slippers in Joan Apio murder trial
The hearing attracted a large crowd, with the courtroom filled to capacity. Many members of the public followed the proceedings from a tent erected within the court premises.
Scene of Crime Officer Emmanuel Ekebu presents to court the exhibits he recovered from the toilet, including a yellow jerrycan and photographs of slippers. (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)
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A scene of crime officer today (July 30) presented before the High Court in Soroti a five-litre yellow jerrycan allegedly used to wash the body of five-year-old Joan Faith Apio inside the school toilet where her body was recovered.
The officer, Emmanuel Ekebu, attached to Soroti East Police Division, also presented photographs of a pair of green slippers recovered from the toilet. The slippers were identified as those worn by the deceased, who was a pupil at Jozan Nursery and Primary School in Soroti.
The hearing attracted a large crowd, with the courtroom filled to capacity. Many members of the public followed the proceedings from a tent erected within the court premises.
The mother of the slain twins holds her cheeks in grief as her husband, John Oluma (in a T-shirt), sits beside her during the court proceedings. (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)
From left: Ariokot, her husband Okedi, H.M. Edoket, and Police Officer Obotol appear in the dock during court proceedings this afternoon. (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)
The case is being heard by High Court Judge Boniface Wamala.
Those standing trial are; Joseph Okedi, 43, the director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School; his wife, Suzan Vivian Ariokot, 38; John Bosco Obotol, 34, a police officer attached to Crime Intelligence at Soroti City East Division Police Station and Okedi's younger brother; James Edoket, 32, the school's headteacher; Valentin Opio, 37, the school cook; and Osula Adongo, the school matron.
They all face charges of murder they allegedly committed on February 5, 2025, at Jozan Nursery and Primary School where the deceased was studying. All the six denied the charges.