A special court in South Sudan has ruled that it does have the jurisdiction to prosecute suspended Vice-President Riek Machar and seven co-accused, who are charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity. Presiding Judge James Alala however said that the special court did have the authority to try national offences, as a hybrid court had not yet been established. "The special court enjoys jurisdiction to try this case according to the Transitional Constitution 2011 as amended," he said. The court also expelled two of Machar's lawyers after the prosecution argued that they did not have valid licences. After the ruling, Machar's SPLM-IO party said the entire case was "unconstitutional" - nothing more than a "rigged court case" and "sham trial" led by a "kangaroo court" that lacked "jurisdiction, legality and competence".