By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The State in the Senzo Meyiwa trial has revealed part of its plan to link Mthobisi Mncube to the gun that killed the Bafana Bafana captain.
Meyiwa was shot in an apparent robbery at his girlfriend’s maternal home in Vosloorus in 2014.
Five men are being tried for the murder, including Mncube, a convicted hitman who is serving time for the murder of a taxi boss in Alexandra, north of Joburg.
It’s understood the gun used in the taxi killing may also be the same gun used in the footballer’s murder only three months apart.
State advocate George Baloyi told the court that evidence given by investigators Mandla Masondo and Bhekumuzi Dlamini would later be used to narrow in on the weapon that fired the kill shot.
“My lord, the court will remember that during the Section 150 address, the State indicated that the State will aver that the firearm that was found in accused 3’s [Mthobisi Mncube]. Possession is being connected with the bullet point that was found on the scene. So, the purpose of leading the evidence will then be to indicate that the accused was in possession of this firearm.”
Police warrant officer, Thabo Mosia, returned to the witness stand at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Thursday to give his evidence.
Mosia, who is a former constable at the criminal records centre in Springs, was responsible for collecting and processing all the evidence he found at the Vosloorus home belonging to Kelly Khumalo’s mother, where Meyiwa was shot.
The officer had testified that he was on standby duty as the crime scene investigator when he got a call about a crime scene in Vosloorus.
Mosia was one of the first forensic experts to arrive on the scene, some four hours after Meyiwa was shot in October 2014.
He said he arrived at the Khumalo home around 12:20am on 27 October to find Brigadier Philani Ndlovu at the scene.
Although warrant officer Thobeka Mhlahlo was responsible for photographing the crime scene, Mosia indicated that he also took some images.
Mosia, who is now attached to a local criminal record centre in Secunda stationed at Standerton satellite service point, revealed that some of the exhibits collected included a fragmented bullet, a walking stick and a hat.
Continuing with his evidence on Thursday, Mosia said he returned to the house around 6am on the morning after the shooting.
He told the court he had to leave to attend to another crime scene.
The office said he and four other police officers noticed a bullet hole on the kitchen door, however, it was not penetrated.
Mosia said a bullet was found on the kitchen counter after two glass jars were moved.
The officer said after assessing the scene for exhibits, the team started looking for fingers prints.
Mosia later indicated that he sent the evidence he compiled to the laboratory and handed in the exhibits in person on the same day.
Following a tea break, Mosia was quizzed by Advocate Sipho Ramosepele, who is the lawyer for Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya and Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi.
Mosia told Ramosepele, that every crime scene must be processed as soon as possible.
“I’m trying to explain that every crime scene must be attended to without any waste of time. The delay in attending to the crime scene might compromise the crime scene, said Mosia.
A witness statement has also revealed a neighbour, Maggie Phiri, cleaned the Khumalo residence after Meyiwa was killed.
According to the witness, Phiri didn’t want it to look like the occupants of the house were drinking on the day that Meyiwa was killed.
Mosia also testified that Kelly Khumalo, her sister Zandile, Gladness, and Tumelo Madlala all returned to the Vosloorus home, even though police investigations were still underway.
“You will also agree as the investigator that foot movement and unauthorised personnel on the scene will also contaminate the scene, “questioned Ramosepele.
“That is correct,” Mosia said.
Mosia is expected to conclude his cross-examination on Friday.
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Video Courtesy of ENCA.