Senzo Meyiwa trial: Defence accuses State of deliberately omitting crucial information

JOHANNESBURG - The defence in the Senzo Meyiwa trial has accused the State of deliberately omitting crucial information that would help prove their version.

Vodacom’s forensic supervisor has been facing questions from the defence on Monday afternoon.

The court has been hearing evidence on cellphone data that the State believes proves that the five men on trial are behind the 2014 murder of the Bafana Bafana captain.

The defence was handed over 4,000 pages of data showing cellphone communication from various handsets linked to the accused and the people who were present when Senzo Meyiwa was killed.

But they believe the State has still omitted crucial information, such as an alleged call between Tumelo Madlala, Meyiwa’s childhood friend and his brother-in-law.

It alleged that it was in that call that Madlala claimed that Meyiwa was shot while trying to break up a fight between Zandi Khumalo and her boyfriend, Longwe Twala.

Defense lawyer Thulani Mngomezulu: "It is highly possible that a cellphone is RICA'd in someone else's name and used by someone else."

Vodacom forensic supervisor, Pinky Vythilingam: "That is correct."

Mngomezulu has also pointed out how the State failed to lead evidence in support of the allegation that Kelly Khumalo made a call to Sello "Chicco" Twala right after Meyiwa was murdered.