Court to determine whether Meyiwa trial to proceed amid issues over lawyer for accused Sibiya
Last week, the case resumed with lawyer representing second accused expected to begin cross-examination of investigating officer Gininda, but he could not proceed, telling the court that he's not ready.
The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial continued in the Pretoria High Court on 1 August 2023. Picture: Nokukhanya Mntambo/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Pretoria High Court is expected to determine on Tuesday whether the Senzo Meyiwa trial will proceed, or if one of the accused will be left without a lawyer, causing another snag in the trial.
It's been 10 years since the Bafana Bafana captain was shot at the home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo.
Five men are being tried for the crime.
Last week, the case resumed, with the lawyer representing the second accused expected to begin cross-examination of the investigating officer, Bongani Gininda.
But he could not proceed, telling the court he was not ready.
When Thulani Mngomezulu, the lawyer representing Muzi Sibiya, died in 2024, Advocate Charles Mnisi, the lawyer for the alleged gunman Mthobisi Mncube, agreed to represent him too.
But he’s been unable to proceed, saying there were thousands of pages he needed to familiarise himself with.
This is despite having asked the court for three weeks to prepare, and Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng giving him over two months.
Last week, Mnisi seemingly abandoned his client, Sibiya.
"If the court is saying that I should come next week ready to proceed with the matter, then I’m going to request that I be excused from representing accused number 1."
On Tuesday, the court is expected to hear from Mnisi if he is ready to proceed or if Sibiya, the man who allegedly kept watch on the night Senzo Meyiwa was killed, will be left to find a new lawyer.
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