By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The state delved into a web of intricate cell phone data to refute claims and alibis of those accused of the football star Senzo Meyiwa’s 2014 killing.
In a surprise turn, cell phone data placed alleged trigger man Mthobisi Mncube far away from the scene at the time of the shooting while corroborating another accused’s alibi.
The state’s case alleges a contractual hit on Meyiwa’s life that it says involved all of the accused.
For the past few weeks, it’s led evidence linking them and the alleged mastermind.
Their case paints accused 3, Mncube, as the gun-wielding intruder who shot and killed Meyiwa with accused 5, Fisokuhle Ntuli, named as the co-ordinator. It says that plot was masterminded by Meyiwa’s then-girlfriend Kelly Khumalo.
During the proceedings, State prosecutor, advocate Ronnie Sibanda, indicated that court may start late on Wednesday. This was due to the presidential inauguration, which is set to take place at the Union Building in the same city.
Sibanda said several roads are expected to be closed, and that might cause a delay in the proceedings.
Leading Pinky Vythilingam, Vodacom’s forensic liaison supervisor testimony, Sibanda started by recapping on some of the evidence shared in court last week.
He highlighted that the tower that picked up on accused three’s phone (Mthobisi Mncube) on the evening of 26 October 2014 was Goud Street in Johannesburg.
Vythilingam confirmed the highlight.
He went on to say Mncube’s phone was picked by a tower in Spruitview on 24 and 28 November 2014. This was a month after Meyiwa’s murder.
Vythilingam agreed.
This is the same tower that singer Kelly Khumalo and Longwe Twala’s phones picked on the night of Meyiwa’s death. Khumalo had an affair with the deceased, Senzo Meyiwa.
Sibanda asked about the time lapse between 17:55, when Mncube’s phone first picked up a tower in Johannesburg and 18:07 where it picked Spruitview. Vythilingam said it is 22 minutes.
“Are you saying one has to travel 22 minutes to Spruitview?” Sibanda asked. Defense counsel for accused three Charles Mnisi objected to the question.
“My lord, this witness will be doing a guess game and this court does not deal with guesses. How long it takes for one person to reach an area depends on their mode of transportation,” said Mnisi.
Court adjourned for Wednesday.