By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The State ballistic expert Lieutenant Colonel Chris Mangena returned to the witness stand for cross-examination in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Mangena presented his findings on the firearm used to murder the football star, and how it was linked to the crime scene.
He spent last week under cross-examination, a year since he first gave testimony.
He has drawn links between the bullet found at the scene of Meyiwa’s murder in October 2014 and a gun found at the home of one of the accused, Mthobisi Mncube.
Mangena’s charts, which illustrate the connections he established between the bullet found at the crime scene and the test bullets fired from accused three Mncube’s firearm, were closely examined in court.
During proceedings, Mncube’s lawyer, Advocate Charles Mnisi, questioned how Mangena came to his findings that the bullet that killed Meyiwa was fired from Mncube’s 9mm Parabellum pistol.
“So why did you mention in your affidavit that you only worked on bullets five and nine and not mention all of them?” Mnisi asked.
Mangena previously testified that he identified two bullets impacts in the kitchen—one on the door leading outside and another on the floor.
The ballistics expert indicated that he compared each of the test bullets to the projectile retrieved from the crime scene.
He maintained this position on Tuesday.
“I have compared all the bullets with the exhibit bullet. The only thing that I did when preparing a court chart, I used bullets five and nine,” Mangena defended his results.
The witness testified that he used those specific test bullets because they shared similar markings with the exhibit.
However, Mnisi reiterated that the defence’s ballistic expert would show Mangena’s findings to be inaccurate.
“Sir, with due respect and the greatest respect that I have for the experts, I’m going to put it to you that you had it all wrong. That is going to be demonstrated as and when the matter progresses that you had it all wrong,” the advocate said.
Mangena’s cross-examination continues on Wednesday.
Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Ntuli are standing trial for the Bafana Bafana captain’s murder at the home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo in 2014.