Lusikisiki mass murder trial: Accused claims cops abused him

Accused number three in the Lusikisiki mass murder trial has testified that police officers acted in common purpose to abuse him in the matter.

The mass murder trial is continuing in the Mthatha High Court sitting in Lusikisiki.

Three of the six men accused of the massacre claim to have been beaten, tortured and forced to admit to the crimes.

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The trio was nabbed in Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal, just a few weeks after the murders.

While a total of 16 police officer previously testified, denying any assault on the accused, accused number three, Siphosoxolo Mayekethe, told the court that their testimonies were misleading.

Mayekethe also claims that during his arrest, his rights were not read to him.

He said this was followed by beatings and that he was forced to admit his involvement in carrying out the hit. He added that he was also told to ditch the option of a legal representative.

Mayekethe further testified that when they appeared in court for the first time, they threatened him not to say a word.

The key State witness in the matter, who was arrested with the pair, admitted that five of the six men accused were part of the commission of the offence on the instruction of the accused.

The State will now lead its own evidence from the accused.