Forensic officer Sergeant Thabo Mosia kept “crucial evidence” from the Senzo Meyiwa crime scene in his personal office safe before registering it in the police’s exhibit book, because he was “busy tampering with the evidence”, said defence advocate Zandile Mshololo.
Mosia told the Pretoria high court on Tuesday that he did not follow the correct procedure of logging in crime-scene evidence in the register “because I was exhausted”.
Mosia again contradicted himself on the stand with this concession, this time saying he kept the exhibits in his office safe because he was tired after a “long time” at the scene, whereas previously he had testified that he did so because Meyiwa was killed over a weekend and the evidence clerk was not on duty.
Mshololo represents the fifth accused, Fisokuhle Ntuli, while Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Ncube and Mthokoziseni Maphisa are represented by advocate Dan Teffo.
Mosia changed his testimony when he realised that 27 October 2014, the day after Meyiwa was killed, was a Monday, and was the day on which he said he arrived at the crime scene and collected the evidence.
Mosia, in his third week on the witness stand, said he only logged in the evidence collected, which included a bullet fragment and projectile, on 28 October 2014, about 24 hours he said he had completed his forensic investigation.
Asked why there was a delay in booking the evidence, Mosia testified: “I was exhausted, hence I put the evidence in my safe to book it the next day.”
But Mshololo rejected Mosia’s testimony, saying the officer was “lying” and changing his answers because he had contaminated the evidence.
“You were not exhausted, Mr Mosia. You were not tired. You were busy tampering with the evidence,” Mshololo charged.
Mosia denied this. “I cannot tamper with the evidence that I’m accountable for. The same evidence I have to present in this court.”
Mshololo pushed back: “You know the truth; what you were doing with these exhibits. And, today, you will tell this court what you did.”
She added: “I understand because you are running away from the truth. The only thing that will set you free in this court is the truth.”
The defence advocate said the evidence that Mosia had collected, including the bullet fragments, was being used to charge the five accused.
State prosecutor George Baloyi stated at the start of the trial in April that the ballistics evidence taken from bullet remains at the crime scene would prove that the gun, which supposedly killed Meyiwa, was found in the possession of Ncube, the third accused.
The state alleges that Meyiwa was killed during a robbery gone wrong at the Vosloorus, Gauteng, home of his lover, singer Kelly Khumalo.
All accused, who are expected back in court on Wednesday, have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
They are remanded in custody.
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