Senzo Meyiwa murder: Defence suggests crime scene was tampered with
The lawyer for the alleged gunman, Mthobisi Mncube, has been cross-examining the State’s ballistics expert on his findings where he linked the exhibit bullet found on the scene to a gun belonging to Mncube.
FILE: Bafana Bafana & Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead on 26 October 2014. Picture: Official Senzo Meyiwa Facebook page
JOHANNESBURG - The defence in the Senzo Meyiwa trial has pointed out splinters in the door from the scene of the footballer’s murder to suggest that tampering may have occurred.
The lawyer for the alleged gunman, Mthobisi Mncube, has been cross-examining the State’s ballistics expert on his findings where he linked the exhibit bullet found on the scene to a gun belonging to Mncube.
Mncube is one of five men accused of the Bafana Bafana captain's 2014 murder at the home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo.
The court has heard that the bullet that hit Meyiwa perforated through his body, hit the kitchen door and landed on the counter nearby.
Advocate Charles Mnisi, on behalf of the accused, Mthobisi Mncube, used two pictures of the kitchen door which were taken the day after the murder of Meyiwa, one by forensic photographer Lieutenant-Colonel Thobeka Mhlahlo, and another taken later by Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Mangena.
Mnisi pointed out differences in the pictures, suggesting that they show that the crime scene was tampered with between the time Mhahlo took pictures and when Mangena took his.
He said that a State witness would testify on why there were fewer splinters in the wooden door when Mangena arrived.
"This is what he is going to say, that he was at the scene, you also arrived and did your own investigation and you found an exhibit that you did not disclose."
But Mangena has denied this.
"My lord, if I removed an exhibit while Mhlahlo was examining the door, why is it not in her picture?"
Mangena's cross-examination continues.