By: Natasha Archary
DNA expert Mampshedi Masetla told the Pretoria High Court that DNA samples do not place any of the 5 men accused at the Senzo Meyiwa crime scene.
On Tuesday, 10 October, Masetla gave evidence which included samples taken from inside the Khumalos’ family home in Vosloorus, all of which could not conclusively prove that the men accused of killing the footballer were in the home on the night of his murder.
DNA samples were taken from a door handle and a hat that some witnesses claimed to belong to one of the two armed men who allegedly barged into Kelly Khumalo’s family home.
According to Masetla the reference samples of DNA taken from Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi and Mthobisi Prince Mncube, do not match all regions of the sample swabs.
“What is important for us when we do DNA comparison is to check whether the reference sample, which is DNA of the known person when conducting a DNA comparison, can be compared to the sample we received from the crime scene, basically by looking at the characters on the regions of the chromosome.
We’d also confirm that you are the donor of that sample and you have to match all the regions of the sample. The donors of the following reference samples were excluded as donors of the swabs and the hat.
The reference samples are from Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi and Mthobisi Prince Mncube.”
Senzo Meyiwa, who was dating singer Kelly Khumalo at the time of his murder, was killed in what the State is calling a “botched home invasion.”
The occupants of the house included, Kelly, her sister Zandie, their mother, Ntombi Khumalo, Zandie’s boyfriend at the time, Longwe Twala, and two of Meyiwa’s friends – Mthokozisi Thwala, who is also the cousin of Meyiwa’s wife, Mandisa Mkhize; as well as Tumelo Madlala, Meyiwa’s childhood friend.
Kelly was implicated at having been in contact with accused No.5 days before Meyiwa was gunned down.
The trial continues.
Also read: University of Pretoria condemns racially driven “PR stunt”
