Defence in Meyiwa trial rejects ballistic evidence on bullet matches

Defence counsel Zandile Mshololo has accused ballistics analyst Chris Mangena of giving unreliable evidence in the Senzo Meyiwa trial. Mangena concluded his evidence at the High Court in Pretoria where five men are on trial for the 2014 murder of the Bafana Bafana captain.

The trial has adjourned to Monday.

While Mangena insists there is a positive link between the firearm allegedly seized from accused number 3 Mthobisi Mncube, and the bullet found at the Vosloorus murder crime scene, advocate Mshololo insists the marks on the bullet are not visible.

Mshololo: This is the exhibit before this court. This is the evidence that is before this court which depicts the striation that you were able to see when you were examining with a microscope. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have printed this if it’s good for nothing. It’s not good for nothing. It’s the evidence before this court which must be accepted as reliable evidence. I’m saying to you it’s not reliable evidence.

Mangena: I say it’s very much reliable.

Mshololo says some of the marks on the test bullets fired from the alleged murder firearm are not visible as Mangena suggests, and therefore, do not match the bullet found at the scene.

Mangena: Some parts of the bullet will not be in contact with the barrel of the firearm so there won’t be marks.

Mshololo: So, we won’t have clear marks.

Mangena: Colonel, I put it to you that, on the striation which you have just indicated, that is not a visible striation which means it’s a break. And therefore, it does not give the consecutive marks which you can count from 1 to 6 matching striations.

Mangena: My Lord if they are not visible does not mean they are not there.

A new witness will take to the stand when court resumes on Monday as the state prepares to concludes its case.