By: Natasha Archary
Defence attorney for two of the 5 men accused for the murder of Senzo Meyiwa has noted a number of contradictions in Mthokozisi Thwala’s version of events.
Advocate Sipho Ramosepele picked apart Thwala’s statements about the October 2014 murder of the former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper.
Meyiwa was shot and killed at the Vosloorus family home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, in an apparent home invasion and robbery.
Thwala’s evidence-in-chief stated that he ran out of the house on the night Meyiwa was murdered after a gunshot went off inside.
The close friend of Meyiwa stated he jumped into the neighbour’s yard because he was being chased by one of the intruder’s.
Thwala said he ran into a father and son and told them there was a robbery taking place next door.
He claims there were screams coming from the house, and he jumped back into Khumalo’s yard to find her mother outside the house.
When he asked Khumalo’s mother where the gunman was, Khumalo’s mother had told him they left.
Thwala says he then went back inside the house and found that Meyiwa had been shot.
Contradictions in Thwala’s version of events
However, the neighbour’s statement about that night contradict Thwala’s version of events, with the neighbour relaying that Thwala failed to mention there was a robbery in progress.
Instead, Thwala told the neighbour that there was a problem in the Khumalo house and “they had been attacked.”
Thwala had apparently already told the neighbour that Meyiwa had been shot, which conflicted with his statement that he only found out Meyiwa was shot when he re-entered the house.
Ramosepele put it to Thwala that the occupants inside the house on the night, including himself, all fabricated their version of events, that Meyiwa was killed in a botched robbery.
A claim Thwala profusely denied.
Thwala was expected to be cross examined by lawyer for the third man accused of Meyiwa’s murder on Tuesday, 09 May, however the trial was postponed to Wednesday, owing to the absence of an interpreter.
The 5 men accused of Meyiwa’s murder are, Bongani Ntanzi, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Mthobisi Ncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Ntuli.
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