Meyiwa murder: Defence pokes holes in ballistics expert's testimony

JOHANNESBURG - The state’s ballistic expert in the Senzo Meyiwa trial has been accused of being part of tampering with the crime scene which he processed after the footballer’s murder.

Ballistics expert Chris Mangena has been under cross-examination for over a week now in the Pretoria High Court. 

His findings, linking the exhibit bullet found on the scene of Meyiwa’s murder to a gun found in the possession of one of the accused, Mthobisi Mncube is being challenged. 

Mncube and four others are accused of the Bafana Bafana captain’s murder in October 2014 at the home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo. 

READ: Senzo Meyiwa murder: Defence suggests crime scene was tampered with

Mangena's evidence is that when Meywa was shot, the bullet perforated his body and hit the kitchen door before landing on the counter nearby. 

On Wednesday, advocate Charles Mnisi, on behalf of the accused, Mncube used two pictures of the door taken hours apart to suggest that Mangena had tampered with evidence he found in the door. 

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"You also arrived and did your own investigation and you found an exhibit that you did not disclose," said Mnisi.

It's unclear from Mnisi's assessment, however, why Mangena would hide a bullet that he found on the crime scene.

Mangena's testimony continues and the lawyer for the fifth and final accused is expected to begin her cross-examination.