Meyiwa trial: Defence lawyer assures court he’ll be ready to proceed when matter reconvenes
The trial stalled again on Tuesday, when Advocate Charles Mnisi told the court he was not ready.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng presides over the re-start of the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial on 17 July 2023. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey Makhaza/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - A defence lawyer in the Senzo Meyiwa trial has assured the Pretoria High Court that he will be ready to proceed with his case in a month’s time when the matter reconvenes.
The trial stalled again on Tuesday, when Advocate Charles Mnisi told the court he was not ready.
Mnisi recently took on the first accused, Muzi Sibiya, after his lawyer died in December.
Sibiya is one of five men accused of the football star’s 2014 murder.
Advocate Charles Mnisi has been given yet another extension by the Pretoria High Court, after he read an affidavit detailing his request for more time to prepare.
"It is very difficult as a legal practitioner to represent an accused who is facing a potential life imprisonment on the basis of the charges that he is facing to prepare the defence of his case with a feeling that a gun is held over your head, and you are expected to do things out of the ordinary."
The court then agreed to postpone the matter to May, first for a check-in, and then later in the month for the trial to proceed.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng asked: "So what will you do on the 19th?"
"We will be proceeding," replied Mnisi.
On 19 May, the investigating officer, Brigadier Bongani Gininda, will be back on the stand, ready for cross-examination.