LIVE BLOG | State's fourth witness cross-examined in Senzo Meyiwa trial

Following his testimony on Friday, the state's fourth witness, Col Lambertus Steyn will on Monday be cross-examined at the High Court in Pretoria.

In his testimony, Steyn told the court that he had established contact between the suspects, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli.

He also revealed that one of the accused — Ntuli — had been in contact with Meyiwa's then girlfriend, songstress Kelly Khumalo, before his murder.

Defence lawyer, Sipho Ramosepele who is representing two of the five men accused will be cross-examining Steyn.

15:30 - Court is postponed

Following Advocate Mshololo's request to continue on Tuesday, court was adjourned and the ttrial will continue in the High court in Pretoria. 

15:00 - Advocate Mshololo cross-examines wintess

Defence lawyer, Zandile Mshololo asked Steyn whether there was any conspiracy between the accused.

"From your investigation, does it show to any degree that the communication between accused number three  and five pointed to a conspiracy?" she asked, to which Steyn answered 'no'.

14:50 - A swimswap was made on 27 octboer

 14:30 - Zithulele Nxumalo cross-examines Steyn

Defence lawyer, Zithulele Nxumalo begins his cross-examination by asking Steyn when he had concluded his analysis.

I can't give you an exact date, it was an ongoing investigation," Steyn responded.

Nxumalo then proceeded to ask Steyn questions surrounding his affidavit, when it was made and completed as well as where it was taken to. 

14:10 - Court resumes

Court resumes and Advocate Mnisi continues with cross-examining Steyn. As the two proceed, Steyn expresses to the court that he is not happy with Mnisi's line of questioning and will no longer answer questions pertaining to an ID parade.

"It seems to me my Lord that I'm participating in an ID parade in court now. It seems he's going in the direction where he's going to show me 20 photos and I must say who is who. I'm not going to participate in that now," Steyn said firmly.

Mnisi continued to pull out photos and ask Steyn to identify, to which Steyn refused to continue. Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng intervened.

"No man mister Mnisi. You've heard that the witness will no longer answer questions regarding an identity parade. Let's make progress," Mokgoatlheng said.

State advocate, Baloyi then objected and requested that the photo album being referred to, be questioned when the investigating officer testifies.

"The investigating officer will be coming to testify and he will explain as to why he requested Colonel Steyn to compile this photo album. These questions can then be put to him. All the witness can say is that he complied," Baloyi said.

13:00 - Court adjourns 

Court adjourns for lunch time and will resume at 14:00.

12:06 - Advocate Charles Mnisi cross-examines Steyn

Advocate Charles Mnisi who is representing accused number three is up next. He begins his cross-examination by clarifying that Steyn had made a mistake in his chief of evidence when he referred to the late Mabhungu Ntuli as accused number five.

"Yes, that's correct," Steyn says.

Mnisi then asks when contact between Mncube and Ntuli took place.

"I don't know. I was not asked to do or check that," Steyn responds. 

Mnisi then asked Steyn to confirm on what dates some of the photos of his client, Mthobisi Mncube were taken. Mnisi also questioned Steyn on how he was able to identify Mncube in court and confirm that he is the same person in one of the photos.

"Why are you saying that the person in that photo is accused number three?" Mnisi asked.

"Because I can recognise that it is the same person my Lord," Steyn responded.

Steyn then explained that he was able to recognise Mncube through the facial features that he has.

12:00 - Ramosepele insists his client's phone was never confiscated

Ramosepele questioned Steyn on the certainty that one of the phones which were analysed belonged to one of his clients, accused number one. He also insisted that his client had never owned an iPhone 6.

Steyn then said that they [the police] had searched in prison and found the above mentioned phone in accused number one's possession at Leeuwkop prison.

"But my client was never there, he has been at Modderbee prison," Ramosepele argued.

He closed off his cross-examination by asking Steyn about Zandile Khumalo's testimony where she said Meyiwa's phone had been found in the house and was also in the hospital.

"I can't give any comment on that because I never received any downloads but if I look through the statements of the downloader, he mentioned that he couldn't open the phone. So maybe the court should ask him when he testifies," Steyn said.

11: 52 - Court resumes

Following a tea time adjournment, court has resumed and defence lawyer, Sipho Ramosepele continues with his cross-examination of Steyn.

11:15 - Short adjournment

Court adjourns for tea time.

10: 30 - Sipho Ramosepele begins cross-examination

Defence lawyer, Sipho Ramosepele is the first to cross-examine Steyn. He begins his cross-examination by asking Steyn whether there was any analysis previously done on the targets after Steyn had received a disc and downloads from Gininda.

"No I only received raw data," Steyn explained before adding that he had not asked Gininda why no other analysis was done since 2014.

Ramosepele then referred to his clients and asked what was found on their phones after they had been confiscated.

"There wasn't enough download evidence," Steyn responded.

Ramosepele then reminded the court that another state witness, Nthabiseng Mokete, who is a neighbour to the Khumalos - had told the court she had borrowed her phones to Kelly Khumalo and Mthokozisi Thwala.

"Did you do analysis on her phone?" Ramosepele questioned.

"I don't recall that," Steyn said.

Steyn revealed that from the analysis of the phones of people that were in the house when Meyiwa was killed, none of them had contacted the police or an emergency number.

Ramosepele then said one of his clients, accused number one denied using the number mentioned in court while his second client, accused number two said that he only acquired the number mentioned in 2019 and he had not used it in 2014.

10: 10 - Steyn takes to the stand

Before the cross-examination began, state prosecutor, George Baloyi asked Steyn to clarify an issue regarding what he said about the link between accused number one and number two. 

"So in brief Colonel, Ncube who is accused number three did not communicate directly with accused one and two but there was that common contact namely the late Mr. Mabungu Ntuli?" Baloyi asked.

"Yes, that's correct my Lord," Steyn responded.