Beer bottles removed from Meyiwa murder scene, court hears

The witness, who made a statement to police, said a woman named Grace Phiri removed the beer bottles before the police could arrive on the night of the murder. 

She is believed to be the neighbour of the Khumalo family in Vosloorus. 

Phiri apparently told the witness she did not want it to be known that there was drinking before Meyiwa was shot and killed. 

The witness statement was read out by Advocate Zandile Mshololo, who represents accused number five.

“Maggie Phiri started to pick up the empties from the floor. I asked her why she did so before the police could arrive at the scene. Maggie responded that she does not want police to see that the people who were inside the house were drinking.”

The witness also claims there was water on the floor.  

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She says it was strange as it was a short while after Meyiwa was shot and killed.

“When I arrived at the Khumalo house the doors were closed. I don’t know who opened the doors. Myself, Maggie Phiri and Julia Mosia went into the house. The reason why I went into the house is because I wanted to see what happened in the house. 

“When we were in the house I saw water on the floor in the passage near the toilet. I was amazed to see the water on the floor when I was told someone was shot in the house.”

The cross examination of Sergeant Thabo Mosia continued on Monday, with Advocate Mshololo putting it to him that the crime scene may have been tampered with.

“She (Phiri) continued to pack the empty beer bottles and we left Maggie Phiri behind busy packing the empties,” read the witness statement. 

“Mr Mosia, you see what is being said here by this witness is that the house was cleaned. In other words the house crime scene was tampered with before you arrived. So you don’t know what was removed or planted,” asked Mshololo.

The trial continues on Tuesday.