Defence in Meyiwa trial set to target ballistic expert’s credibility

The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial is set to resume this morning, with legal expert, Sheldon Magardie, predicting that the defence will target ballistic expert Chris Mangena’s credibility during cross-examination.

Magardie believes the defence will focus on poking holes into Mangena’s testimony and his credibility as a witness.

“Mangena’s evidence is mostly of a factual and technical nature. If the defence has consulted their own witness, they most likely will cross-examine him on those aspects,” he told YNews.

Mangena’s cross-examination was expected to commence yesterday, more than a year since he first testified.

It was, however, delayed after it emerged that almost an hour of his testimony was missing from written court records. 

The missing testimony is from August 30 last year. 

In the shocking evidence, Mangena had claimed that Senzo Meyiwa was shot at close range by a gun linked to accused number three, Mthobisi Mncube. 

However, the defence has cast doubt on the alleged murder weapon, previously suggesting that the weapon might have been tampered with.

Court officials have since been tasked with ensuring that the missing transcripts are available when the trial resumes today.