By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has raised some questions about the competency of the police investigating the murder of former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa.
Meyiwa was shot in an apparent home invasion in 2014 in full view of his close circle of friends.
The footballer’s childhood friend Tumelo Madlala is the latest witness to testify about the circumstances that led to the shooting.
While DNA swabs are believed to have been taken in the aftermath of the murder – Madlala told the court that he didn’t recall police taking gunpowder residue tests to eliminate suspects in the house.
Five men are on trial for the murder of the former Bafana Bafana captain in October 2014.
Judge Moakgathleng told Madlala that the police were supposed to collect the clothing to be used as evidence.
“The other thing is that competent police would’ve taken all your clothes because this firearm exploded in a confined space. Common sense tells me that they would’ve taken all your clothes and then conducted all the same tests on them. They didn’t do that, no they didn’t.”
During cross-examination Advocate Zandile Mshololo, who represents one of the men accused of murdering Meyiwa, asked Madlala if a prime gunshot residue test was done on any of the individuals inside the house.
Madlala said no tests were done.
“Well, as I have already said, there are some things that were done on us, including saliva swabs as well as the taking of the cell phones. That very night on that spot. There were things that were done to us.”
“But you can’t recall if it was done from your hands? Is that correct? “questioned Mshololo.
“No,” responded Madlala.
Madlala wrapped up his testimony after three days on the stand and the State expected to call a new witness on Friday.
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Video Courtesy of ENCA.