Senzo Meyiwa trial back in court after recess, with ballistics evidence on the agenda

JOHANNESBURG - The trial into the murder of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa returns to the Pretoria High Court on Monday morning after a three-week break.

The matter was last heard before courts went on recess, with the state still leading its case.

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Five men are standing trial for the murder that police believe was a hit. Meyiwa, who was also a Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, was shot at the Vosloorus home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo, in 2014.

Documents read in court have since shown that the accused allegedly outed her as the mastermind.

When the trial took a break at the end of last month, it was the lawyer for the first accused, Thulani Mngomezulu, who asked for time to familiarise himself with the evidence given by ballistics expert Lietunenent Colonel Chris Mangena.

Mangena completed his evidence in chief in August last year, and had been waiting for the defence to cross-examine him since.

At the end of last month, the defence promised to be ready to proceed with Mangena on Monday, after consulting with their own ballistics expert.

Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng gave a stern warning that there should not be any delays on Monday morning.

Mangena testified that the gun found at the home of the third accused, Mthobisi Mncube, during a separate taxi violence-related investigation matched the gun used to murder Meyiwa.

But Mncube and his co–accused insist they had nothing to do with the football star’s murder.