The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial faced yet another setback when the court proceedings were adjourned early on Friday due to the absence of advocate Zandile Mshololo.
The trial, which centres around the tragic shooting of late soccer star Meyiwa on October 26 2014, has been marked by multiple delays since it started over a year ago.
Warrant Officer Thabo Mosia, one of the first forensic officials to arrive at the crime scene, took the stand for cross-examination, however, his testimony was cut short due to Mshololo’s absence.
Mshololo was expected to cross-examine Mosia’s evidence.
Asked by judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng, Mosia confirmed his availability for the conclusion of his cross-examination on Mshololo’s return, resulting in the judge postponing the proceedings to Monday.
During Friday’s proceedings, advocate Zithulele Nxumalo, who represents accused number four, focused on the details of Mosia’s forensic examination and the decision-making process behind the collection of evidence, which revealed gaps and inconsistencies.
Nxumalo asked Mosia if he had performed swabs on various areas of the crime scene, including the bedroom, sitting room, and the bathroom.
Mosia confirmed that he had swabbed the door handle of bedroom one and conducted swabs for both dry and wet substances.
He also acknowledged taking swabs from the sitting room, where the court heard blood was present on the floor.
Nxumalo then pressed Mosia about areas he had not swabbed, particularly the bedroom opposite the bathroom.
Mosia explained that he did not swab that bedroom based on his knowledge that the main bedroom was frequented by the occupants, and he had not received specific instructions to collect evidence from that area.
“I relied on my knowledge that the occupants in the house were using the main bedroom or frequenting it, I did not have instruction to swab that bedroom,” he said.
Nxumalo questioned the reliability of Mosia’s knowledge as a forensic investigator, suggesting that Mosia’s duty was to cover all areas of interest, regardless of his personal assumptions.
He also pointed out that Mosia’s focus on the perpetrators might have led him to overlook potential evidence.
“I am concerned because there is evidence that Tumelo Madlala went into the bedroom where you did not take swabs,” Nxumalo said.
“So, it did not occur to you that the witnesses could be suspects?”
Nxumalo also questioned Mosia about his decision not to swab the kitchen door, which Mosia justified by explaining that he had received information that the door had been heavily used.
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