By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Pinky Vythilingam, who oversees Vodacom’s forensic liaison division told the Senzo Meyiwa trial at the Pretoria High Court that she had gathered information that included the addresses of the cellphone towers.
This follows defence’s request for a map that shows Vosloorus in a larger scale.
Vythilingam said she had gathered information that included the addresses of the cellphone towers. These were towers that cell phones of individuals who were in the room with Meyiwa the night he was murdered had pinged.
“We begin with Spruitview, the distance to crime scene is 1.18km. The next tower is Phake that is 2.2km away from Vosloorus to crime scene. Then 2.9km Moleleki to crime scene, 3.1km Vosloorus Square to crime scene,” she said.
She clarified that the end tower only picks when there is a new activity on a cell phone number.
“If there is no activity, then it will not record. The tower that will ping when a device receives a call is the receiving tower. Even if the device is in motion, the end tower will not pick up.”
State prosecutor advocate Ronnie Sibanda asked if Meyiwa, Longwe Twala and Kelly Khumalo’s cell phones picked the Moleleki tower at the same time.
Defence counsel for accused number three, advocated Charles Mnisi, interjected. He said Twala and Khumalo have not been to court to confirm that the numbers belong to them.
“It must not be assumed by the state when it puts on record that these numbers indeed belong to those people that have been mentioned. Without those witnesses coming to testify and confirm that these are their numbers, the evidence that relates to that number will be on record on a provisional basis, “said Mnisi.
However Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, who represents accused number one, told the court that musician Kelly Khumalo has confirmed that the two cellphone numbers referenced in her lover murder trial belonged to her.
Mngomezulu said they have been furnished with an affidavit from Khumalo stating that the number belongs to her.
Vythilingam mentioned that she had other commitments. This resulted in the court hearing on the day being cut short yet again.
The presiding judge on the matter Ratha Mokgoatlheng said the case has been postponed until July 22.
Five men believed to have been involved in the shooting are behind bars, standing trial for the crime.
Mncube, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya‚ Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi‚ Mthokoziseni Ziphozonke Maphisa and Fisokuhle Nkani Ntuli have pleaded not guilty to murdering Meyiwa.