Senzo Meyiwa trial: Cracks in SAPS evidence procedures in the spotlight
The defence counsel for one of the five accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has raised the possibility that a firearm which has been linked to accused number three may have been swopped.
Advocate Charles Mnisi represents accused number three Mthobisi Mncube.
Mnisi told the High Court in Pretoria on Friday that the firearm may have been swapped while it was booked out by ballistic expert, Captain Christain Mangena.
The gun in question was used by Mncube to assassinate the chairperson of a taxi association in Alexandra.
It was later meant to be destroyed by the South African Police Service after the case was brought to finality.
But the gun was never destroyed following procedural delays within SAPS.
Instead it was stored with SAP13 at the Cleveland Police Station and later retrieved by Mangena, who was working on the Senzo Meyiwa murder case.
“Is it not so that there exists a likelihood that the firearm that Mr Mangena received on 20 July 2020, could not have been the original firearm that was brought back to the police station by Mr Masondo?” asked Mnisi.
“No comment,” responded Mtshali.
A statement by Mangena, which was read out in court by Mnisi, stated that the seal of the exhibit bag, which was used to pack the 9mm firearm and ammunition at the Cleveland Police Station, was not properly sealed.
Mnisi said Mangena will come and testify to this.
“Mr Mangena booked out this exhibit on 20 July 2020 at the Cleveland Police Station. But when he booked them out these exhibits were contained in an open evidence bag.”
Proceedings will resume on Monday where a new witness will be called by the state.
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