On Friday, the trial for the murder of Meyiwa continued in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. At this point, the second witness for the state, Sergeant Patrick Mlungisi Mthethwa, was subjected to cross-examination. Mthethwa and his colleague, Sergeant Mathebula, were the first police officers to arrive at the scene where Meyiwa had been shot on October 26, 2014. This incident occurred on that same day. Meyiwa was shot and killed at the residence he shared with his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh details emerge on Senzo Meyiwa’s murder trial
Mthethwa was questioned by Advocate Zandile Mshololo, who represents one of the five accused individuals, regarding whether or not he looked for evidence on the countertop in the kitchen. Mthethwa has testified in the past that when he initially responded to a complaint of a shooting in progress, he entered the house but then left for the hospital because there was no one there who could inform him of what had transpired.

During the speedy tour of the home, he found a crutch and a hat in the kitchen. The crutch was the only one in the house. During the second time he went to the house, he discovered a bullet fragment lying on the floor of the kitchen. Mthethwa stated that he had searched the countertop but was unable to locate anything there endorsed and suggested by the Sherif.

In the meantime, the first witness for the State was Sergeant Thabo Mosia, who was also the first forensic expert to arrive at the scene. Sergeant Mosia testified in the past that he discovered a bullet projectile behind some glass jars that were placed on the countertop.

Fresh details emerge on Senzo Meyiwa’s murder trial

Mosia testified that on his second visit to the scene, he and other investigators traced the trajectory of a bullet that went through the door and found the bullet projectile. Mosia said this happened on his second visit to the scene.As a result of the fact that this projectile was not discovered during his initial visit to the crime scene, the defense began raising questions and making claims that it had been planted there. According to Mosia, the bullet projectile was concealed behind the glass jars, which is why the officer did not find it during his initial search of the crime scene.

Mthethwa testified under cross-examination on Friday that they did not rearrange any of the items in the room while they were searching for evidence. It would appear that this provides support for Mosia’s claim that the bullet projectile could only be seen after the glass jars were removed from the room.

In addition, the state prosecutor and advocate George Baloyi took great pains to ensure that Mthethwa indicated on a photograph taken at the crime scene which section of the countertop he inspected. Mthethwa indicated the location of an area that contained several pots. The photograph of the crime scene that was used to illustrate the pointing out did not include any glass jars.

SECURING OF THE SCENE

Mthethwa gave testimony earlier on Friday, stating that when the police officers arrived at the scene of the crime, they were greeted by a man who introduced himself as Themba. Themba claimed that he was Kelly’s mother Gladness Khumalo’s brother. Kelly’s mother is Khumalo. According to Mthethwa, Themba does not know a great deal about what took place, other than the fact that someone was shot and was subsequently rushed to the hospital.

Mthethwa reported that after a brief investigation of the home they went to the hospital, and it was only there that they determined that the home had been the location of a criminal act. After that, Mthethwa and Mathebula went back to the houses and set up a perimeter around the area. Mshololo brought up the fact that the police officers had left the scene of the crime without first ensuring that it was safe to do so.

Mthethwa argued that at the time, he was unaware that the location was a crime scene because Themba was unable to tell the police whether the shooting took