Meyiwa murder trial: Absence of defence lawyer delays proceedings

JOHANNESBURG - The absence of a defence lawyer in the Senzo Meyiwa trial has resulted in further delays in proceedings at the Pretoria High Court.

The court was set to hear more evidence on the bank statements linked to the accused on Friday, but that has now been put on ice.

The State pulled the statements to prove the whereabouts of the accused when the Bafana Bafana captain was killed in 2014.

It’s been a turbulent week for Muzi Sibiya’s lawyer Thulani Mngomezulu regarding his health.

On Monday, he asked for an early adjournment due to eye problems saying he forgot his eye drops. But Judge Ratha Mokgaotlheng insisted he could share his and instructed him to continue with cross-examination.

On Friday, Mngomezulu wrote a letter informing the judge’s secretary of his ill health, adding that he would not be in court.

Judge Mokgoatlheng was visibly displeased asking why Mngomezulu did not call him directly.

READ: Legitimacy of lawyer linked to Senzo Meyiwa murder accused back in focus

The matter resumed briefly, and the State sought to establish which part of the bank statement evidence the defence was disputing.

While Mngomezulu had asked the lawyer for the 5th accused advocate Zandile Mshololo to stand in for him, he did not give instructions on the bank statements.

On Thursday, he told the court that they would be challenging the correctness of the statements.

The matter resumes on Monday.