The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial took a dramatic turn as Advocate Charles Mnisi, defence counsel for accused number one Muzi Sibiya, dropped a bombshell in court, claiming his client was viciously assaulted by police.
Mnisi continued with his cross-examination on Tuesday after the state informed the court that the vehicles that the police were driving when they arrested Sibiya in 2020, did not have AVLs.
“My client was kicked and fell on the floor,” Mnisi told the stunned courtroom.
He further added that Sibiya was blindfolded when the cops assaulted him.
Assaulted while blindfolded
“This poor person,” he said, pointing at him, “was blindfolded with a plastic over his eye while lying down, he could not see who kicked him.”
The allegation came under scrutiny as presiding judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng pressed Mnisi, asking if the female cop who worked on the case was the one who kicked Sibiya.
“You didn’t specify who assaulted your client because the said Sergeant Magola who is female was there too, did she also kick your client?”
“The blindfold”, responded Mnisi, “made it impossible for my client to identify the cops who assaulted him.”
However, police Brigadier Bongani Gininda, who is being cross-examined, denied any knowledge of the alleged assault.
“Based on what advocate Mnisi is saying, it is unclear if he was assaulted in my presence or he was assaulted by me. But I will say that both is not correct. I was not there,” Gininda added.
“I didn’t see that he was hurt or attacked and did not receive a report on this from anybody.”
No visible marks
Mnisi said the fact that Gininda didn’t see visible marks of an assault doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
“I agree with advocate Mnisi. However, the accused didn’t inform me of such. And we tried to take him to the doctor after there were allegations against the accused but he refused.”
Meyiwa was shot dead on October 26, 2014, at the Vosloorus home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo.
The five men accused of killing Meyiwa face charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
They have all pleaded not guilty.
