Lusikisiki mass murder trial back in court on Tuesday

JOHANNESBURG - The Lusikisiki mass murder trial will enter its fourth week, with the State expected to look into the motive behind the brutal killings.

Eighteen people were shot execution style in Ngobozana Village in the Eastern Cape almost a year ago.

The six men accused of planning and executing the murder are set to return to the dock on Tuesday.

The prosecution team is expected to call on more witnesses when proceedings resume. 

The Mthatha High Court sitting in Lusikisiki has over the past three weeks heard testimonies from various witnesses.

In the second week, the State led evidence from two of the survivors, who escaped death while they held their breath and said silent prayers under the sound of a barrage of gunfire. 

The witnesses told the court that the gunmen tried to make sure that all the victims were dead before fleeing.

Some investigators on the case also took to the witness stand, detailing how gruesome the crime scene was, with bodies piled on top of each other.

The State previously revealed that it would also call some 204 witnesses, although it’s unclear when this will be. 

A forensic and ballistic expert positively linked the firearms found in possession of some of the accused with those used in the assassination of the Ngobozana victims.