Defence in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial claims a bullet projectile found in the kitchen was planted at the scene to replace the original. Colonel Thobeka Mohlahlo who was responsible for taking photos at the scene took the stand for the second day at North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria yesterday.
The defence advocate Zithulele Nxumalo told the witness that the bullet projectile found on the scene of the murder couldn't have been the one that was fired from the firearm used to kill Senzo Meyiwa. He went back to Mosia's testimony when he said when he got inside the Khumalo home for the first time, he did not see a projectile, but when he came back for the second time, the morning after the shooting he saw it. "A bullet projectile fired from a revolver that didn't eject a cartridge was removed from the scene and replaced with a different one, It was planted," said Nxumalo. Mhlahlo asked, "If you say it was planted, who says I planted it?" Nxumalo continued to suggest that it was the police that replaced the original projectile with a different one. "I am making a proposition that on 9 February 2015, the police went to look for a projectile that matches the firearm allegedly found in the possession of accused 3," he said referring to Mthobisi Mncube.
Nxumalo probed Mhlahlo further wanting to know if he took pictures of cartridges or the projectile as exhibits but the witness said no.
Mohlahlo said he wasn't going to take pictures of an empty bag. Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli are accused of the premeditated murder of soccer star Meyiwa, they are also facing additional charges of attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and possession of firearms and ammunition without a licence. The trial continues today.