Grobler faces tough questions over evidence gathering in Meyiwa trial

Forensic analyst Retha Grobler has once again been questioned about why she did not document her work when she conducted a microscopic verification and confirmed the findings by ballistic expert Colonel Chris Mangena in the Senzo Meyiwa case.

Grobler is one of the four analysts who reviewed and confirmed Colonel Mangena’s findings linking the Meyiwa murder weapon to accused number 3, Mthobidi Mncube.

Mncube and four others are on trial at the High Court in Pretoria for the 2014 murder of the Bafana Bafana captain.

Forensic Analyst Grobler says she did a microscopic examination of the exhibit bullet from the crime scene as well as the test bullets fired by Mangena from the firearm seized from accused number 3 in 2015 – and confirmed that was indeed the Meyiwa murder weapon.

Captain Grobler says there was no need to note her findings as she was simply giving Colonel Mangena an opinion.

She has also told the court that there is nothing unusual about a colleague asking others to review or confirm their findings however, defence counsel Charles Mnisi insists Colonel Mangena sought assistance from other analysts- as the markings or striations on the test bullets were faint and therefore results were inconclusive.

VIDEO | Senzo Meyiwa Murder Trial: 19 September 2024