Lusikisiki massacre trial postponed after State witness concludes giving evidence

DURBAN - The Lusikisiki massacre trial in the Eastern Cape has now been postponed to Monday.

The six men accused of murdering 18 people in Ngobozana Village returned to the Mthatha High Court sitting in Lusikisiki. 

After the defence team concluded its cross-examination of the first witness, the State asked for yet another a postponement.

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The first State witness has concluded giving evidence. 

When proceedings resumed on Friday, it took defence lawyers less than ten minutes to cross-examine him.  

The witness, who cannot be named for security reasons, gave testimony about the murder of a relative who was also a politician and businessman.

He was shot and killed allegedly by three of the suspects on trial for the Lusikisiki massacre.  

The State is linking some of the accused in the Lusikisiki case to the  murder, citing the firearms used to carry out the hit. 

State prosecutor, Advocate Nkululeko Mathenjwa, told the court that the State did not expect the witness to conclude the testimony on Friday and did not prepare another witness. 

The matter will return to court on Monday when a new witness is expected to be called to testify.