Primer residue is no smoking gun, court hears

A POLICE forensic analyst has refused to concede at Shrien Dewani’s trial that a person with gunshot particles on their hands probably fired a shot.

Colonel Thandiwe Mlabateki told the Western Cape High Court yesterday that a test result showing the presence of primer residue indicated that someone had fired a firearm, had been within a 2m radius of a shooting, or had handled a gun, a spent cartridge or a holster.

In the present case, a portion of a yellow kitchen glove tested positive for primer residue. The glove was worn by Mziwamadoda Qwabe, who is serving 25 years in prison for his part in the shooting of Dewani’s wife, Anni, while the couple was on honeymoon in Cape Town four years ago.

Xolile Mngeni, who was handed a life term for killing Anni and who has died in prison, was not wearing gloves and his hands were not tested for residue.

Cross-examined by junior defence counsel Pieter Botha, Mlabateki said she did not know Qwabe had testified that he did not touch the firearm before or after the shooting. She agreed this excluded possible transference.

Qwabe has said he picked up the bullet casing in the car.

Botha did not refer to this, but said primer residue between thumb and index finger indicated the person probably fired the shot. Mlabateki disagreed.

“The conclusion is that person was in the vicinity. You cannot be bold to say that person fired.”

Mbaleteki has 19 years’ experience in chemistry and 13 in primer residue analysis. – Sapa