Lusikisiki mass killing trial: Forensic analyst testifies
The matter is currently being heard at the Mthatha High Court sitting in the Lusikisiki Magistrates Court.
The 8 men accused of planning and carrying out the Lusikisiki massacre appeared in the Lusikisiki Regional Court on 17 February 2025. Picture: Nhlanhla Mabaso/EWN
DURBAN - A forensic analyst and criminal expert who worked on the Lusikisiki mass killing is giving testimony in the trial on Friday.
The matter is currently being heard at the Mthatha High Court sitting in the Lusikisiki Magistrates Court.
On Thursday, a crime scene expert who processed the initial crime scene testified about his own investigation into the incident.
Six men stand accused of killing 18 people at Ngobozana village in September 2024.
The deceased were gathering for a tombstone unveiling ceremony.
Friday’s State witness is a member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) attached to the Eastern Cape crime investigation team and has been working in the unit for 15 years.
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The warrant officer, who cannot be named, was among those called in to investigate the Lusikisiki massacre.
He is an expert in research, fingerprint analysis, mock trial, advanced crime and DNA recovery.
He is testifying about the second crime scene where four victims were shot and killed.
The KwaMhatu homestead is just a kilometre away from the Sinqina homestead, where the first group of victims were found.
The expert told the court that he recovered 10 spent cartridges of a high-calibre firearm as well as five bullet fragments on the scene.
He also investigated the shoeprints at one of the crime scenes.
The warrant officer went through a photo album that he compiled, where he first discovered the body of young man lying in a pool of blood.
The State is set to call on more witnesses in the matter on Monday.