Okello’s defence team had argued that he suffered from a mental illness and should not be held criminally liable. However, the court dismissed the claim, citing a lack of medical evidence and absence of testimony from family members to support the alleged condition.
The High Court in Kampala has convicted Christopher Okello on four counts of murder, rejecting his defence that he was mentally unwell at the time of the killings.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, citing strong and consistent evidence that placed Okello at the scene of the crime.
The court heard that Okello was apprehended while committing the killings, a key factor that reinforced the prosecution’s case. Justice Khaukha described the evidence as overwhelming and agreed with the joint opinion of the court assessors that Okello was responsible for the deaths of the four children.
“It is the finding of this court that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person caused the death of the four children,” she ruled.
The judge further stated that the nature of the killings demonstrated clear intent. She noted that the manner in which the children were attacked left no doubt of malice aforethought, a necessary element for a murder conviction under Ugandan law.
Okello’s defence team had argued that he suffered from a mental illness and should not be held criminally liable. However, the court dismissed the claim, citing a lack of medical evidence and absence of testimony from family members to support the alleged condition.
“In the absence of any medical evidence to support the claim of insanity, this court would have expected at least evidence from a family member,” Justice Khaukha said.
The court subsequently found Okello guilty of the murders of Eteku Gideon, Kaise Alungat, Ignatius Sserwange and Ryan Odeke, in violation of Sections 171 and 172 of the Penal Code Act.
Emotions ran high in the courtroom following the verdict. Some members of the public applauded the decision, while relatives of the victims were overcome with grief. One parent collapsed during the proceedings and was rushed to hospital.
The court adjourned briefly after the ruling, with sentencing expected to be delivered later in the day.