Defence lawyer's no-show in Senzo Meyiwa trial raises ire of the judge
Defence lawyer Thulani Mngomezulu in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has been criticised by the judge for not attending yesterday's proceedings.
Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, the lawyer for murder accused Bongani Ntanzi, during cross-examination of a witness in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial on 22 November 2023. Picture: Kgomotso Modise/Eyewitness News
PRETORIA - The presiding judge in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has lambasted one of the defence attorneys for failing to make an appearance for Wednesday’s proceedings.
Thulani Mngomezulu, who is the lawyer for the first accused, was a no-show in court where five men are standing trial for the footballer’s 2014 murder.
After the court spent months determining the admissibility of confession statements by two of the accused, the court is back in the main trial hearing the details of the confessions.
Ngomezulu had asked for time to familiarise himself with evidence from the main trial which he was initially not a part of.
On Tuesday, Mngomezulu was still a no-show, failing to call the judge or his clerk to be excused.
READ: Confession statement reveals Ntanzi feared his co-accused
State advocate George Baloyi addressed the court on this matter.
"He indicated that he is seized with another matter and that matter ran over from yesterday [Tuesday] to today, but he said we can proceed today [Wednesday]."
But Judge Ratha Mokgatlheng was critical of Mngomezulu’s conduct.
"Is this how black lawyers behave...some of them...why didn’t he call me?"
The court has heard brief testimony from the interpreter who was present when Bongani Ntanzi signed his confession statement at the Boksburg Magistrates Court and the police officer who drove with Muzi Sibiya to point out the scene of Meyiwa’s murder.