Meyiwa trial: One of the the accused distances himself from legal representatives' version

JOHANNESBURG - The first suspect in the murder case of football star Senzo Meyiwa has consistently distanced himself from the version presented by his legal representatives.

Muzi Sibiya returned to the witness stand on Tuesday, dispelling that he ever signed a confession statement implicating himself in the footballer’s murder.

A trial within a trial is playing out in court to establish the admissibility of confession statements signed by Sibiya and his co-accused Bongani Ntanzi.

Five men are standing trial for Meyiwa’s 2014 murder.

The court is already sitting with multiple versions from Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, one presented by his lawyer Sipho Ramosepele another from his second lawyer Thulani Mngomezulu and another given by him on the witness stand.

Last year, Mngomezulu told the court that when Sibiya was taken to the Diepkloof Police Station to make a confession statement, he was given an already written statement and told to sign or continue being beaten.

But on Tuesday while under cross-examination Sibiya made a critical concession.

Sibanda: " So you confirm that at some stage Mbotho was indeed writing?"

Sibiya: "Yes he was writing, as to what it is he was writing, I don't know."

Sibanda: "But you confirm that at some stage during that time he was writing as he was talking to you."

Sibiya: "He was asking me questions and writing at the same time as to what it is that he was writing, I don't know because the questions contained in here is the first time today that I am coming across them."

Sibiya has also repeatedly divorced himself from the version presented by his lawyer on his behalf saying Mngomezulu must answer for himself.

Sibiya will return to the witness stand on Wednesday.