From the Witness Box: Senzo Meiwa Murder: Is It a Case of Police Incompetence? experts weigh in

Forensic detective Thabo Mosia Senzo Meiwa has been a witness in the murder trial for three weeks. Bafana Bafana and the Orlando pirate captain were assassinated on October 26, 2014, in Vosluras.

He was accompanied by friends Tumelo Madalala and Mthokozisi Thavala, his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo and his family, Gladnes Khumalo, Zandi Khumalo, and Zandi’s boyfriend, Longwe Twala.

In October 2020, Fisokuhle Natuli, Muzikavukhulewa Sibia, Bongani Sandiso Natanzi, Mathobisi Prince Mancube and Mathokoziseni Mafisa were arrested and charged with murder, attempt to murder, armed robbery, possession of unlicensed firearms and possession of ammunition. Everyone has pleaded not guilty.

Eight years after Maeiva’s death, Mosia was standing in the witness box at the Pretoria High Court and being cross-examined what he did when he arrived at the crime scene on Sunday, 26 October 2014.

So far, Mosia has told the court:

• He did not take gunshot residue tests from people in the house at the time of Maewa’s murder;
• He did not take a DNA sample from the door handle that the robbers allegedly used to enter the house;
• He did not locate the allegedly stolen phone; And
• He allowed the people present at the time of the murder to stay in the house.

When the defense lawyer asked Mosiah why he had not done so, he said that it was either not his job or he did not consider it necessary to do so. So, what exactly is required for a forensic investigator to do when he arrives at the crime scene?

what did the police do

Mosia told the Pretoria High Court that he did not test the remains of bullets from people who were in the home at the time of the alleged robbery because he did not consider them suspicious.

Senzo Meiwa was assassinated on Sunday, 26 October 2014. (Photo: Manus Van Dyck / Gallo Images)

everyone is suspicious

“If there is a shooting, everyone should be considered suspicious until they are cleared up,” said Kevin Macdonald, a forensics consultant.

Forensic criminologist Laurie Peters-James said the gunshot remains should have been tested on people who were in the house to take them out.

“But it… has been done at the discretion of the forensic investigator. I must have taken their clothes as well because the blood doesn’t just spill over the wall,” Peters-James told DM168.

what did the police do

When Mossia was asked why he didn’t take DNA samples from the door handle of the door the robbers had allegedly come from, he said it was because many people had already touched it.

collecting samples

Peter-James agreed that multiple people touching a door handle could be a reason for not taking his DNA sample.

Read in Daily Maverick: “Soccer star Senzo Meiwa murdered – judge warns against delay in trial, defense lawyer slams state over ‘late’ documents”

Another reason could be “If the door handle is made of wood, [because] So it is also difficult to pick up fingerprints because wood is a porous material”.

It is not clear what kind of material the door handle in Khumalo Ghar is made of.

what did the police do

Nor did Mosia trace the Samsung S4, which was allegedly stolen. He told the court that it was because “my brief was to secure the scene. I was working with a detective and he should have made sure it was traced.”

‘Could have worked for someone else’

“It could be because when you work with forensics there are different departments. Firearms go to the ballistics department, the body goes to the pathology. Then they’ll send their report to the investigating officer… So this It could have been someone else’s job to talk on the phone,” Peters-James said.

Kelly Khumalo, the girlfriend of Senzo Meiwa, was at the Vosluras’ home on the night of his murder. (Photo: Gallo Images / Oopa Bopape)

what did the police do

Mosia, who arrived at the scene at 11.55 pm, about four hours after the murder, said he allowed everyone to stay at home as it was night and children were present there.

a list of disabilities

On how common it is to allow people to be at a crime scene, forensics expert David Klatzo said: “It’s common with incompetent police. You have to protect [the crime scene] as close as possible.”

Read in Daily Maverick: “Who Killed Senzo Meiwa: As Court Case Unravels, Documentary Reveals 8 Years of Inconsistent Storyline and Inept Policing”

On June 7, Zandile Mashololo, the lawyer representing Natuli, told Mosia about his qualifications. Mosia said that he completed his BTech in forensic investigation in 2019, five years after Meiwa’s murder.

Mosia told the court that when he went to the crime scene in 2014, he had taken several advanced crime courses offered by SAPS in 2008.

qualification important

McDonald said it was important to have forensic science qualifications. “If you look at what happens with evidence missing or cases [getting] It was thrown out because the evidence was not collected properly, it is because people do not understand the forensic investigation procedures properly.” DM168

The Senzo Meiwa murder trial continues on Monday after proceedings were adjourned last Wednesday. See report here: Soccer star Senzo Meiwa murdered: Judge warns against delay in trial, defense rebukes state over ‘late’ documents

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, available nationwide for R25.

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