Lusikisiki massacre: 30 bullet cartridges collected from scene, says crime expert
The investigating officer is part of four forensic officers who were deployed to Ngobozana village in September last year, when the incident occurred.
FILE: The three men linked to the Lusikisiki massacre appeared in the Lusikisiki Magistrates Court on Friday. Picture: EWN/Nhlanhla Mabaso
JOHANNESBURG - A crime scene expert in the Lusikisiki Massacre trial has told the Mthatha High Court, in the Eastern Cape, that 30 bullet cartridges were collected from the deadly scene.
The investigating officer is part of four forensic officers who were deployed to Ngobozana village in September last year, when the incident occurred.
Eighteen people were shot and killed while gathered for a family tombstone unveiling.
To date, six men have been charged for the brutal murders.
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Thursday’s State witness, who cannot be named, is a member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) forensic team.
He testified that he and his team arrived in Ngobozana hours after the shooting and started processing the crime scene, including photographing the victims.
He painted a picture of how they found some of them on top of each other, covered in blood.
Going through the photo album, he told the court that most of them sustained gunshot wounds in their upper bodies, including the head, shoulder, neck and arms.
The warrant officer said about 30 bullet cartridges were recovered from the scene, as well as four bullet fragments and three bullets.
The court has also learnt that all of the shots came from a high-calibre firearm.