Former DPC Aurien sentenced to death
FORMER Mukono District Police commander, James Aurien has been sentenced to death for murdering his wife Christine Apolot.
FORMER Mukono District Police commander, James Aurien has been sentenced to death for murdering his wife Christine Apolot.
A special session of the High Court in Mukono presided over by Justice Lawrence Gidudu today delivered its verdict on the high profile murder case.
Mr Aurien, 55, shot and killed his wife, Christine Apolot, on April 20, 2008, at their home in Lugazi barracks after accusing her of having an extra marital affair.
During the trial, prosecutor Jane Okuo Kajuga lined up 16 witnesses-including Ruth Helen Akello, the younger sister of the deceased as the key witness to testify against the former police chief.
Akello had mysteriously disappeared during Aurien’s initial trial at the Kampala High Court in July last year, prompting the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to drop the charges against Mr Aurien.
However, Aurien was re-arrested and charged afresh before the Mukono Magistrates Court following a public outcry, especially from the women pressure groups, who tasked the State to search for the key witness.
Before Mukono High Court, Aurien said the deceased took away her own life using his pistol. The suspect, who was in custody at Luzira Prison, was represented by Henry Kunya.
At the close of the hearing last week, the two court assessors in the case advised court differently on Aurien’s fate.
Ms Betty Ojambo advised court to acquit him arguing that no one saw him pull the trigger to kill his wife, while her colleague, Mr Stanley Mukasa, advised court to convict him basing on the overwhelming circumstantial evidence on record.
A special session of the High Court in Mukono presided over by Justice Lawrence Gidudu today delivered its verdict on the high profile murder case.
Mr Aurien, 55, shot and killed his wife, Christine Apolot, on April 20, 2008, at their home in Lugazi barracks after accusing her of having an extra marital affair.
During the trial, prosecutor Jane Okuo Kajuga lined up 16 witnesses-including Ruth Helen Akello, the younger sister of the deceased as the key witness to testify against the former police chief.
Akello had mysteriously disappeared during Aurien’s initial trial at the Kampala High Court in July last year, prompting the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to drop the charges against Mr Aurien.
However, Aurien was re-arrested and charged afresh before the Mukono Magistrates Court following a public outcry, especially from the women pressure groups, who tasked the State to search for the key witness.
Before Mukono High Court, Aurien said the deceased took away her own life using his pistol. The suspect, who was in custody at Luzira Prison, was represented by Henry Kunya.
At the close of the hearing last week, the two court assessors in the case advised court differently on Aurien’s fate.
Ms Betty Ojambo advised court to acquit him arguing that no one saw him pull the trigger to kill his wife, while her colleague, Mr Stanley Mukasa, advised court to convict him basing on the overwhelming circumstantial evidence on record.