New delay in the Senzo Meyiwa trial
THE trial of the accused killers of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa has hit another snag after one of them fired their lawyer, forcing a further delay in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria.
Accused two Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya has decided to changed his legal representative, firing advocate Sipho Ramasepele, and also brought an application to have the trial within a trial reopened.
Ramasepele will continue to represent accused one, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi.
Sibiya will now be represented by advocate Thulani Mngomezulu.
Yesterday, the Pretoria court was set to hear final arguments after over three months of a trial-within-a-trial to determine the admissibility of confession statements made by Sibiya and Ntanzi.
Ntanzi and Sibiya claim they were severely assaulted by the police and forced to sign confession statements implicating themselves and others in the murder of the former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper.
The two accused were represented by advocate Sipho Ramoselepe. During the trial within a trial, their counsel was joined by advocate Thulani Mngomezulu.
Before the court could start hearing the closing arguments, Mngomezulu addressed Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng and told him that the Legal Aid Board indicated that it won’t be paying him for services he had offered to Sibiya in the trial within a trial.
“Over the weekend I was called by Sibiya’s uncle, who indicated they still required my services. They would rather terminate the services of the Legal Aid Board and instruct me privately,” he said.
Furthermore, Mngomezulu told the court Sibiya also wishes to reopen his case in the trial within a trial and wants three police officers to testify.
“According to the instruction and discussion we had, it relates to police officers and I was told they have to be subpoenaed. I indicated to the witnesses when I consulted with them that they might be called to testify at any given stage this week,” he said.
Judge Mokgoatlheng gave Mngomezulu until tomorrow to consult with the witnesses and prepare his heads of argument.
Meyiwa was killed on October 26, 2014, while visiting his singer girlfriend Kelly Khumalo at her home in Vosloorus. Five men – Ntanzi, Sibiya, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Ziphozonke Maphisa, and Fisokuhle Nkani Ntuli are standing trial for his murder.
The case returns to court tomorrow.