Lusikisiki massacre trial: Key State witness tells court killings occurred due to a feud

The key State witness in the Lusikisiki mass murder trial has told the court that the killings occurred as a result of a feud between the mother of accused number one and members of the Sinqina family.

Lwando Abi testified that the hit was carried out on Mzukisi Ndamase's instruction.

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Eighteen people were shot and killed in Ngobozana village in September 2024.

Abi, who was initially arrested in connection with the crime and later turned State witness, is on the stand.

The key State witness in the mass murder trial has once against maintained his stance that Ndamase ordered the murder of the 18 people.

But during cross examination on Thursday, Ndamase told the court that he will argue his innocence in the case.

He said unlike the witness, he was nowhere near the crime scene.

However, Abi said only accused number one had the motive to have the victims killed, citing a feud between the Sinqina family and his mother.

The witness also said on the morning following the attack, the accused spoke to him using the phone of accused number four, Bonga Hintsa, and thanked him for his role in the hit.

Abi previously testified that his job was to drive the hit squad to and from Ngobozana.