By: Natasha Archary
The Pretoria High court has given the “trial within a trial” in the Senzo Meyiwa case the green light, with proceedings underway on Friday, 13 October.
This after two of the men accused of murdering footballer Senzo Meyiwa, Muzi Sibiya and Bongani Ntanzi, claim they were assaulted and coerced into making confessions.
Both men previously testified that they were tortured and forced to sign police statements admitting to the crime.
Initially, the court was going to take the allegations of only the two accused who claimed their confessions were made under duress.
However, the defence is also going to contest the alleged warning statements made by the other three men accused of gunning down Meyiwa in what the State is calling a “botched home invasion.”
The State is in possession of a written confession by Muzi Sibiya and two statements of confession from Bongani Ntanzi.
State Prosecutor George Baloyi asked the court to give the trial within a trial the green light to test the integrity of the reported confessions.
The request was granted by Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng who said, “I’m satisfied that your client alleges that he didn’t make that statement, but the State alleges that he did make it.
So, we need a trial within a trial to enable the defence to contest the admissibility of that statement or confession.”
On Friday, the first state witness, Police Colonel Mhlanganelwa Mbotho took to the stand saying he was the officer who took Muzi Sibiya’s confession.
Colonel Mbotho told the court that he explained Sibiya’s rights to him before he took down his confession.
The trial continues.
Also read: 5 arrested for attack on Edenpark police
We look forward to your feedback:
[vfb id=97]
