By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Colonel Thobeka Mhlahlo became the latest witness to take the stand in the Senzo Meyiwa trial at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria following the conclusion of the cross-examination of her colleague, Thabo Mosia.
Mhlahlo, was one of the forensic investigators tasked with probing the scene of Meyiwa’s death in October 2014.
She has been working for the South African Police Service (SAPS) for 22 years, compiled a report of the crime scene where Meyiwa was shot.
Mhlahlo had revealed on Monday that she was tasked with taking pictures, investigating fingerprints and drawing a rough sketch of the floor plan of the house.
The former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper was fatally shot by what the state alleges were armed intruders at the Vosloorus family home of his then girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo, on 26 October 2014.
Continuing with her evidence on Tuesday, Mhlahlo told the court she was the person who discovered a bullet projectile on the kitchen counter in the Khumalo house when the crime scene was being assessed on the morning of 27 October. This confirmed Mosia’s version of events.
Mosia had testified that he only noticed a bullet fragment on the kitchen floor on his first visit to the house.
However, during his second visit – after attending two other crimes scenes – Mhlahlo detected the bullet projectile behind glass jars on the counter.
Mhlahlo explained that the projectile, which was put in a brown envelope and marked as exhibit one, could have ricocheted from the door after the gun went off then landed on the kitchen counter.
Another two police sergeants who were on the scene, Patrick Mthethwa and Timothy Mathebula, also told the court that they did not see a bullet projectile in the kitchen on the day Meyiwa was killed.
But Mhlahlo’s evidence states that she’s the one who found the projectile behind the glass jars in the presence of Mosia and Lieutenant Colonel Zwane.
“We also looked on top of the cupboard, and there were other items, including a jug. We found the bullet head behind the glass jars on the cupboard,” she said.
Mhlahlo’s version of events was later tested by defence lawyer Advocate Sipho Ramosepele during her cross-examination.
Ramosepele asked about the condition of the crime scene when Mhlahlo arrived, but she referred the lawyer back to her photos.
“[The scene] was exactly the same way I took the pictures,” she said.
Mhlahlo disputed Ramosepele’s suggestion that the main focus during the analysis of the scene was kitchen and the sitting room.
Where did the processing of the scene start?” the advocate asked.
“We started outside and then inside. We photographed the outside as to how it looked like outside of the scene. We then went inside to swab, starting with bedroom one,” the officer replied.
Mhlahlo also told the court that the bullet projectile retrieved from the scene did not have any bloodstains.
She also said there were no bloodstains by the kitchen door or the kitchen counter where the projectile was found.
Advocate Charles Mnisi, who represents accused number three, Mthobisi Mncube, dismissed Mhlahlo’s testimony, saying there was no need for the bullet to be put in an envelope before being placed in a forensic bag.
Mhlahlo denied the statement, saying it was untrue.
“I put it to you that the bullet was planted,” said Mnisi.
Mhlahlo replied: “I have no idea, but at the time that I was there, nothing was planted.”
Mnisi also put it to Mhlahlo that the small wooden fragments that were on the kitchen counter next to the bullet were also planted.
“Maybe the court should then inform us who planted those things because we found those things there, and when they were found, I was with Mosia and Zwane,” Mohlahlo replied.
Advocate Zithulele Nxumalo, who represents accused number four, Mthokoziseni Ziphozonke Maphisa, reiterated Mnisi’s argument, saying the bullet projectile was planted.
Nxumalo asked Mhlahlo why the wood fragments that were found next to the bullet were not collected.
The trial continues on Wednesday with Mhlahlo under cross-examination.
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Video Courtesy of ENCA.