Facing the music: Chicco Twala (above)'s son Longwe has questions to answer.Photo: Masi Losi/Sowetan/Gallo Images
DDefense advocate Thulani Mgomezulu told court on Wednesday that evidence from investigators into Senzo Meyiwa's murder was far from the truth and the defendant did not kill the footballer.
Mr Mgomezulu stressed that evidence showed that Mr Meyiwa was shot dead while trying to break up a fight between Zandile Khumalo (sister of Mr Meyiwa's girlfriend Kelly Khumalo) and Longwe Swara. did.
Mr Khumalo, who was at the Khumalo home when he was shot dead in Vosloorus, Gauteng, on October 26, 2014, testified as the state's first witness that two intruders broke into the house and attacked Meyiwa. said he was shot and killed by one of them.
Mgomezulu added that he would call witnesses and tell the court that one of the people in the house, Meyiwa's close friend, Tumelo Madlala, called him and told him that Longwe was the one who shot Meyiwa. Ta.
“When Longwe came to Kelly's house, he was drunk and in possession of a special .38 caliber revolver. Three shots were fired, injuring three people. Senzo was shot dead and Longwe was shot dead. He committed suicide by shooting himself in the ankle and the other. [shot] Shots were fired on the floor and Zandi was injured as a result,” Mgomezulu said.
During cross-examination of one of the investigators, Sergeant Baso Mogola, he said: [the investigators, together with Brigadier Bongani Gininda] I cooked proof of this. Everything is hidden here. They know who they are protecting. ”
After giving evidence during the trial, Mogola returned to the stand on Friday and told the court that he was the arrestee of one of the accused, Muzikaukurelwa Sibiya.
In response, Ms Mogoro said her defenders were insulting her.
“We never get tired of cooking.” [up a story] If we bring that to court, it means South Africa is in a class of its own when it comes to justice, and that's why we come to court to try the evidence. It makes no sense to say the evidence is cooked,” Mogola said.
Mgomezulu questioned why Mogola did not also take statements from those who were in the house and the families of the deceased.
“When you were tasked with this case in 2018, did you seek a statement from the Meyiwa family? Did you obtain a statement from Sifiso Meyiwa? [Senzo’s brother]from Mandisa Mkhize [Meyiwa’s wife] Did you get a statement from Mr. Hlofe? [brother-in-law]asked Mgomezulu.
Mr Mogoro said he did not know if Mr Gininda had made a statement, but that he had not.
“There is no way you don’t know that Brigadier General Gininda interviewed the Meyiwa family. I have something to tell you about these investigations. I want to prove that this is far from the case,” Mugomezulu said.
He said Mr Meyiwa's younger brother, Mr Sifiso, could not be a state witness.
“I just want to see if my colleagues want to use Sifiso Meyiwa in this case,” Mugomezulu said.
State prosecutor George Baloyi said Sifiso Meyiwa was on the list of state witnesses and would provide evidence regarding the identification of the deceased.
The suspects, Bongani Ntanzi, Sibiya, Mtobisi Ncube, Mthokozisi Mapisa and Fisokule Ntuli, have pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. .
