Final witness to testify in Lusikisiki mass murder trial-within-a-trial

The trial-within-a-trial in the Lusikisiki mass murder case, linked to the killing of 18 people in the Eastern Cape, neared its end on Monday as proceedings adjourned for a final witness.

Accused number four, Bonga Hintsa, will take the witness stand on Tuesday to testify about the alleged assault by police in the case.

Three of the six men accused in the high-profile case made claims of police using force to compel them to pen down their statements admitting to the mass murder in Ngobozana village back in September 2024.

The court heard evidence from two of the accused and will wrap up the last one on Tuesday.

The trial-within-a-trial in this case has brought slight delays to the actual trial.

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The court has spent weeks now trying to determine if the accused Aphiwe Ndende, Siphosoxolo Mayekethe and Bonga Hintsa were indeed beaten by police.

These claims came shortly after accused five, Songezo Vuma, and accused six, Mawethu Nomdlwembu, submitted their admission of their involvement in the commission of the crime.

The pair pointed to accused one, Mzukisi Ndamase, as the mastermind behind the hit.

Implicated officers denied this, saying none of the accused had bruises or scars to prove the allegations.

The matter was adjourned to Tuesday to allow the lawyer for accused four to consult with his client ahead of his testimony.