On 9 October, the Pretoria High Court will resume hearing the murder trial of five men accused of killing former soccer star, Senzo Meyiwa. This comes after the state prosecutor Advocate George Baloyi tried to introduce the next state witness, a cellphone expert.
Baloyi informed the court that the witness was going to testify about smartphone downloads from accused number two, Bongani Ntanzi, and accused number five, Fisokuhle Ntuli. However, the defense objected, claiming that they needed more time to look at the witness evidence and speak with their clients.
“My Lord you’ll recall that by the time when we adjourned, I had placed on record that I asked that these documents and downloads of all information relating to cellphone confiscated from accused number five, be supplied to myself. We’ve been on recess for two weeks, of which I could have used it to go through and consult. However, I was not furnished with that information,” said Advocate Zandile Mshololo, who’s representing accused number five, Fisokuhle Ntuli.
Advocate Charles Mnisi, the legal the representative for accused number three, agreed with Mshololo. He informed the court that the fresh documents given by the state were extensive and included illustrations.
“The point is to address the difficulty in which we find ourselves with regards to the information that comes in dribs and drabs, when you’re in the middle of our trial, then we’re confronted with the information that we should attend to. That basically switches off our mind from what we would be busy doing at that time and concentrate on something that is totally different. That prejudices and affect the manner in which we normally prepare for trial,” said Mnisi.
Mshololo also informed the court that state witness Constable Sizwe Zungu needed to be called back because she needed to study certain facts connected to his testimony. Presiding Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng granted the defense’s plea and delayed the trial until Monday.
