/ 17 February 2009

Prints in Dube’s car same as those of murder accused

Fingerprints lifted off murdered reggae star Lucky Dube’s car matched those of accused Sifiso Mhlanga, a fingerprint expert told the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday.

”Before the start of the trial I took the left-hand prints of accused number one [Mhlanga] and compared it with the others from the scene and found that they were a match,” said Inspector Michael Mungadi.

Mungadi, with 15 years experience in the force, said he examined the scene for prints on October 19 2007, the day after Dube’s murder, and found an identifiable left palm print inside the rear left door of Dube’s Chrysler.

He said that he then received another set of prints from the investigating officer, with the name Sifiso Mhlanga earlier this month.

”The mark prints are corresponding.”

Earlier, Inspector Motimedi Mokobane told the court that Dube’s killer shot him from inside the car.

”It appears the shooter was at the back seat of the car because all the windows were intact,” said Mokomane.

However, he could not ascertain if the car was moving at the time.

The bullets went through the left side of the drivers’ seat before hitting Dube.

Mokobane said that he retrieved a cartridge case and a bullet, seemingly from a 9mm pistol, inside Dube’s car.

”I checked the body and the exit wound was on the right thigh and I then checked under the car seat and found the bullet to be lodged under the mat,” he said.

Both the bullet and the cartridge were sent to the forensic lab in Pretoria.

The trial continues. — Sapa