Under the direction of state prosecutor advocate Ronnie Sibanda, Warrant Officer Lawrence Ndlovu wrapped up his testimony on Wednesday in the ongoing murder trial of Senzo Meyiwa by presenting important digital evidence.
Following the court’s admission of fresh photographic evidence, Ndlovu was able to offer a thorough examination of pictures taken from a memory card that belonged to accused number two, Bongani Ntanzi.
Ndlovu explained a picture that was shown in court, which displayed Muzi Sibiya, the accused number one, sitting on a camp chair in jeans, a white T-shirt, and sunglasses.
A man in similar clothing, but without sunglasses and with a cap, was standing next to Sibiya.
He attested that although the photo, which came from Ntanzi’s phone memory card, had been erased, it had been recovered for evidence.
In his testimony, he primarily identified the facial features of one of the suspected intruders connected to Ntanzi, who was at Kelly Khumalo’s home in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg.
Meyiwa was shot and killed on October 26, 2014, while visiting Afro-pop musician Khumalo, who was his girlfriend at the time.
Mnisi begins cross-examining Ndlovu
Charles Mnisi, the defence attorney for accused one and three, started cross-examination after the state’s presentation. He questioned Ndlovu about his professional role.
“I do digital investigations and analysis,” Ndlovu said, adding that he was unable to access the contents of a cellphone that police officer Mogane had given him because of a security pattern the owner had set.
In response to Mnisi’s question about whether Ndlovu had been told to analyse the data that had been downloaded, he said: “No, I did not receive that request.”
Mnisi stated that he had few questions for Ndlovu because the evidence was taken from Ntanzi’s cellphone.
“What phone settings do you need to set up when you say that the phone’s live location is on?” asked Mnisi.
According to Ndlovu, only a smartphone can determine the location.
“In a smartphone, you have an option of opening location, so when you take a picture, you are able to click on and see the location coordinates of where the picture was taken,” he explained.
- The trial continues
READ MORE: State presents fresh evidence in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial
