A disagreement over a dental report that the state had provided about accused number three, Mthobisi Mncube, caused the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial to be further delayed in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng expressed frustration over the presentation of the report without the relevant witness present, leading to an adjournment until Friday.
This came after the state, represented by advocate Ronnie Sibanda, introduced a dental report after Mncube went to a dental specialist.
He allegedly had a gold tooth, according to the new evidence.
However, Mokgoatlheng questioned the procedure.
“I don’t understand; why should I see this document without the witness being here? I cannot have sight of this document without evidence being led. My experience tells me that it’s not correct,” he stated.
Advocate Charles Mnisi, the lawyer for Mncube, acknowledged the court’s concerns and requested a 30-minute recess to review the report with his client, who had recently been examined by a specialist doctor.
Mnisi also noted that the defence was prepared to proceed if the witness, police sergeant Moses Mabasa, was available.
Witness testifying in another case
However, Sibanda informed the court that Mabasa, stationed at Brixton, was not present but had been asked to remain on standby.
After a lengthy adjournment, it emerged that Mabasa was unavailable, as he was testifying in another court case.
The proceedings were adjourned by Mokgoatlheng because the witness was not present.
“Because of those reasons, we shall adjourn until tomorrow,” said Mokgoatlheng.
The court anticipates clarification on the dental report and the availability of important witnesses when the trial resumes on Friday.
The case revolves around the 2014 murder of Meyiwa, the adored goalkeeper for Bafana Bafana.
Meyiwa was killed at his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s mother’s house in Vosloorus, which is east of Johannesburg.
Five men have been charged with the murder and are currently in jail. They have all pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder.
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