Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa “probably would have survived seconds or minutes definitely not hours” after sustaining the deadly gunshot wound.
This is according to pathologist Johanne Steenekamp who took the stand at the North Gauteng High court on Tuesday and the state prosecutor George Baloyi asked him how long Meyiwa would have lived after sustaining the fatal shot.
“The heart and lungs are important organs. An injury, especially this type of injury to those organs, can cause a fatality. Sometimes it is instantaneous. In this instance I don’t think so because of the mechanism of death which I explained as possible blood loss.
“I think in this case he was a fit young man. He probably would have survived seconds, minutes definitely not hours,” said Steenekamp.
Baloyi further asked Steenkamp regarding the findings that there was blood loss and “the destruction of the heart”.
Steenekamp said there was blood loss and there was an injury to the heart and a lung.
The pathologist indicated that the trajectory of the bullet was “down, back and away from the midline” and Meyiwa’s injury was consistent with a contact wound and he had internal bleeding.
Meyiwa was shot and killed at his singer girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s home in Vosloorus in 2014.
The people who were in the house, Tumelo Madlala, Mthokozisi Thwala and Zandile Khumalo testified that they rushed Meyiwa to Botshelong Hospital where he was declared dead. Thwala further told the court that Meyiwa was still alive when they rushed him to hospital.
The five men on trial are, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli .
They are charged with premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of firearms without a license and possession of ammunition and they have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
