By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
A Chief forensic investigator Lieutenant, Olebile Edward Sereo, continued with his testimony in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial taking place at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The court proceedings began with the lawyer of accused number four, advocate Zithulele Nxumalo, cross-examining Sereo.
Following his cross-examination, advocate Zandile Mshololo cross-examined Sereo on behalf of her client Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli, who is accused number 5.
Mshololo said it took several ballistic analysts to verify Colonel Chris Mangena’s findings, as the results from the bullets fired from the alleged Meyiwa murder weapon, were inconclusive.
Mangena linked the firearm seized from accused number three, Mthobisi Mncube to the bullet found on the crime scene, after firing several test bullets.
Mshololo grilled Sereo about the bullet markings which are similar to human fingerprints.
On Monday, Sereo confirmed Mangena’s findings that the firearm seized from one of the accused was the murder weapon.
“For verification purposes, I compared the 9mm calibre bullets marked 369 TD4 and 369, TD8 with a fired 9-millimetre calibre bullet marked 217 267 strokes 14A/ using a comparison microscope, and found sufficient class and individual characteristics markers on the bullets mentioned. I’m referring to the evidence bullet and the test bullets.”
“The reason why the additional two analysts were asked to do the verification is because you had not reached an agreement, and your report was inconclusive because you did not have sufficient individual striation [marks] to merge with the exhibit, said Mshololo.
In response, Sereo said, that is incorrect. Mangena approached me alone and I did that verification alone. So I can only testify about my role alone in that matter.”
Afterwards, Mshololo told presiding Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng that Advocate Charles Mnisi is still in the middle of trial at the regional court.
Mokgoatlheng was not happy and decided to postpone the matter. He told Sereo to avail himself on Thursday for Mnisi’s cross-examination.
“Advocate Mnisi still has to take you under cross-examination. I am sorry. It is normally never done. But because this judge is too soft, he lets advocates get away with murder,” said Mokgoatlheng.
“Any other judge in this [Gauteng] division [of the high court] who handles marathon criminal trials will tell you that you cannot take two or more cases while this one goes ahead.
“I am easy … The JP [judge president Dunstan Mlambo] is asking me when you are finishing this case.
“There is an advocate handling another case in junior court. The JP will be very upset if he hears about this.”
Meyiwa was shot and killed while visiting Kelly Khumalo at her mother’s residence in Vosloorus, Gauteng, on 26 October 2014.
Khumalo ordered the hit on her former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, according to Sibiya and Bongani Ntanzi’s confession statements.
Muzi Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Ntuli are on trial for Meyiwa’s murder.
They face charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of ammunition.