By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Advocate Charles Mnisi told the High Court in Pretoria on Friday in the Senzo Meyiwa trial, that the firearm may have been swapped while it was booked out by ballistic expert, Captain Christain Mangena.
Mnisi represents accused number three Mthobisi Mncube.
Mtshali began his testimony on Thursday, with the officer highlighting that an incorrect date was logged when the firearm that was retrieved from one of the suspects was signed into evidence.
Court adjourned early on Thursday to allow the defence to study the documents used in court as part of his testimony.
Meanwhile, forensic officer Thabo Mosia is expected to make another return to court after the defence found inconsistencies in his testimony compared to his pocketbook on the night of Senzo Meyiwa’s murder.
The defence said it’s important for him to clarify these discrepancies to ensure the evidence on the record is correct.
The gun in question was used by Mncube to assassinate the chairperson of a taxi association in Alexandra.
It was later meant to be destroyed by the South African Police Service after the case was brought to finality.
But the gun was never destroyed following procedural delays within SAPS.
Instead it was stored with SAP13 at the Cleveland Police Station and later retrieved by Mangena, who was working on the Meyiwa murder case.
“Is it not so that there exists a likelihood that the firearm that Mr Mangena received on 20 July 2020, could not have been the original firearm that was brought back to the police station by Masondo? “asked Mnisi.
“No comment,” responded Mtshali.
A statement by Mangena, which was read out in court by Mnisi, stated that the seal of the exhibit bag, which was used to pack the 9mm firearm and ammunition at the Cleveland Police Station, was not properly sealed.
Mnisi said Mangena will come and testify to this.
“Mangena booked out this exhibit on 20 July 2020 at the Cleveland Police Station. But when he booked them out these exhibits were contained in an open evidence bag.”
Proceedings will resume on Monday where a new witness will be called by the state.
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Video Courtesy of ENCA.