Defence questions dentist's examination of Senzo Meyiwa murder accused

JOHANNESBURG - A dentist giving testimony in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has described the demeanour of one of the accused that he examined as more worried than in pain.

Dr Thabang Hlokwe examined accused Bongani Ntanzi days after his arrest in June 2020 to see if he ever had a gold tooth.

This was on the back of a description given by those who were in the Voosloorus house when Meyiwa was shot in October 2014.

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Hlokwe told the court his assessment found no visible injuries to Ntanzi.

Instead, he said Ntanzi looked more worried.

But the accused's lawyer, Thulani Mngomezulu, questioned Hlokwe on this observation, accusing the dentist of going beyond the scope of his instruction. 

"I put it to you that on the day you conducted the examination, you infringed upon his right to privacy, especially since you breached the confidentiality of accused number two in relation to his medical status."

The State wrapped up its case in the trial-within-a-trial on Friday following months of testimony. 

The process is set to determine the admissibility of confessions signed by Ntanzi and one of the other accused, Muzi Sibiya.

Both men have denied making the confessions, making counterclaims that they were coerced and beaten into implicating themselves in the crime.

Five men are standing trial for the 2014 murder of the football star. 

The defence is expected to start calling its own witnesses from Monday.