South Sudanese community calls for 'justice' in stabbing case - MetroNews Canada

KITCHENER — A crowd of about 75 people marched through downtown Kitchener on Wednesday to press for “justice” in a recent homicide.

John James, 19, an immigrant from South Sudan, was stabbed to death just before midnight May 12 in a park behind Cameron Heights Collegiate in Kitchener.

Zachary Schultz, 18, has been charged with manslaughter, but was released on bail with few conditions just one day after his arrest.

The case has angered members of the local South Sudanese community, which numbers about 3,000 people in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph.

They are particularly upset by the early release of Schultz, a slight college student with no criminal record who was in the park with a teenage girl.

Relatives of James — a large man with a violent criminal record — have been told by authorities that he may have been stabbed while committing a robbery with a fake handgun.

But they don’t believe that account and question why Schultz was released from custody before police finished their investigation.

During a loud but peaceful march to Victoria Park from Waterloo Region headquarters on Frederick Street, protesters waved signs and chanted while police on bikes, horses and foot looked on.

In addition to large Canadian and South Sudanese flags, members of the group carried signs with slogans such as “The Crown Attorney is Not Just” and “We Demand the Murderer Behind Bars.”

“The gentleman should be put back in jail,” said Joseph Oywak, a family friend.

James’ parents and sisters were front and centre during the march, but declined to comment other than to point out his formal name was Jany (pronounced Johnny) James Ruach.

The protesters also included a group of young white people — described as friends of the dead man — wearing red baseball caps and other articles of red clothing.

William Chuol, a pastor at a Kitchener church attended by many immigrants from South Sudan, said people are frustrated because they haven’t been given enough information by authorities.

“We trust the police, but we need them to communicate with us,” he said, downplaying earlier suggestions racism may be influencing the handling of the case. “It was just too early to let that guy out.”

Funke Oba, president of the local African-Canadian Association, said the case highlights the need for more programs to get at the roots of youth violence.

“We are not playing the race card,” she said. “We want justice. What we’ve done today is let everyone know we are watching.

“It’s a tragedy for the killed, it’s a tragedy for the killer. That’s what we want to talk about.”

Relatives have said they were told Schultz may have acted in self-defence when he allegedly reached into his backpack, got a knife and stabbed James once in the chest during a robbery.

They continue, however, to question an apparent lack of independent witnesses or surveillance recordings to corroborate that account.

“If this guy innocent, why was he carrying the knife?” Chuol asked.

Organizers say they are planning more protests to keep the pressure on police and prosecutors to do a thorough investigation.

Schultz is scheduled to make his next court appearance June 15.