The lion murder trial in the Phalaborwa Circuit Court was delayed on Tuesday while a pathologist examined the blood-soaked clothing of the dead man, Nelson Chisale.
Dr Leon Wagner, head of the medical faculty at the University of the Free State, was flown up to give evidence in the defence of one of the accused, Mark Scott-Crossley.
Chisale was viciously beaten and then thrown to lions in January last year.
Wagner examined the blood-soaked, shredded trousers and shirt police found in a lions’ den shortly after Chisale went missing on January 31 2004.
Wagner is finalising a written summary of the report he will present to the court, attorney Joost Huystek said.
Scott-Crossley has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murdering Chisale. He stands accused of the murder with Simon Mathebula (43), who has also denied killing Chisale.
The trial of a third accused, Richard Mathebula (41), was separated from theirs last week when it became apparent he will not be fit to stand trial for at least three months after falling ill and being admitted to hospital for treatment of suspected tuberculosis.
Charges against a fourth accused, Robert Mnisi, were withdrawn shortly after his arrest last year when he turned state witness.
The court has heard how Chisale was beaten with a panga, tied to a tree and then shoved to the ground, kicked in the head and threatened with a rifle. He was then loaded on to a bakkie and thrown over a fence into a 20ha encampment at the Mokwalo White Lion Project, near Hoedspruit.
This was allegedly done because he went to fetch pots he had left at the Scott-Crossley farm after being dismissed in November 2003.
Chisale was devoured by lions. Police found only his skull, part of a tibia, a fibula, ribs and his left index finger — which was used to identify him. The remains were buried at his birthplace at Maboloka village, in the Brits district, North West, in March. — Sapa