A police crime scene analyst has told the inquest into the mysterious death of ANC president-general Chief Albert Luthuli that he does not believe the version of the driver of a train that allegedly struck down the first African Nobel Peace Prize winner.
W/O Brenden Craig Burgess took the stand and told the inquest about his findings when he examined the scene where Luthuli was killed on the day of July 21 1967.
Taking place at the Pietermaritzburg High Court, evidence was heard on Monday from a crime scene analyst.
Burgess said he took videos of the scene where Luthuli died on May 27 2024 and May 31 2024.
His videos were played in the courtroom for all to see.
He told the inquest that when taking his videos, he was following the route that was taken by Luthuli on the fateful day he died.
Burgess said his findings made him question the written statement of an eyewitness called Mr Lategan, who was the driver of the train that allegedly hit Luthuli in 1967 in KwaDukuza (previously known as Stanger) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
“Mr Lategan said the train hit Mr Luthuli on the right shoulder. However, there was no injury on the right shoulder of Mr Luthuli. There was an injury on the right side of the rib. I wonder and question the driver’s eyewitness account,” said Burgess.
Burgess said the only way Luthuli’s death could have been an accident is if he was walking in the same direction as the train was travelling.
“If the locomotive (train) strikes a person on the left side, breaking the elbow, the body may spin, causing the head to glance against the cabinet at the back. This will pull the person forward to the bridge, causing a fracture to the rib and injuries to the hand… The eyewitness (Mr Lategan) statement does not correspond with what I have described,” said Beiges.
Earlier on Monday, Elliot Nxumalo testified that after hearing about Luthuli’s death from a Mr Mabaso, they both went to the railway where Luthuli was injured. Nxumalo said he and Mabaso cleaned Luthuli’s blood on the railway.
Nxumalo said Mr Mabaso was an employee of Luthuli at the time of the incident.
Nxumalo lives in KwaDukuza.
The inquest continues tomorrow, on Tuesday, with Burgess’ testimony.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is presenting evidence in the Pietermaritzburg High Court in a bid to have the initial findings on the death of iconic anti-apartheid figure and former ANC president Chief Albert Luthuli overturned.
After Luthuli’s death, an initial inquest was held at the Stanger Magistrates’ Court in 1967 and found that Luthuli’s death was an accident.
The apartheid government claimed a goods train hit Luthuli. This claim has been dismissed by Luthuli’s family and the ANC.
