Meyiwa trial hears intruder's hat was handled
One of the first police officers at the Senzo Meyiwa crime scene admitted to the High Court in Pretoria that he failed to inform a forensic officer of the handling of one of the exhibits.
Sergeant Timothy Mathebula was called to the crime scene together with Sergeant Patrick Mthethwa on the night Meyiwa was shot and killed.
Both Mthethwa and Mathebula told the court that Gladness Khumalo, who is Zandile and Kelly’s mother, picked up a hat which is believed to have belonged to one of the intruders.
Both officers told her to put it back on the floor as it formed part of the police investigation.
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“Did you inform Mr Mosia when he arrived that the hat had been touched by MaKhumalo? So it means that he was not informed by those who first arrived on scene,” questioned Adv Zandile Mshololo, who represents one of the five accused.
“No, he was not informed,” responded Mathebula.
Witness evidence on Tuesday and Wednesday has shown that Meyiwa’s murder scene was left unattended by Mthethwa and Mathebula.
According to their testimonies, both Mthethwa and Mathebula rushed to Botshelong Hospital to try and find out the details of what happened on the murder scene.
They then returned with MaKhumalo who took them through the scene and events of what transpired on the day that Meyiwa was killed.
