Analysts who confirmed Mangena's findings linking gun to Meyiwa murder will be called as witnesses

The Pretoria high court intends to call four analysts who confirmed the ballistic evidence of state witness Col Chris Mangena to testify in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.

“Normally my discretion should be used at the end of the cross-examination but because of the nature of the evidence which has been led here — on ballistics — I intend to call the four people you say assisted you,” judge Ratha Mokgoathleng told Mangena.

Defence advocate Charles Mnisi on Friday suggested Mangena consulted the analysts because he was unsure about the match he made.

“I am putting it to you that this was a borderline case which is the reason you had to go to four other people for confirmation,” Mnisi said.

A defence ballistic expert would testify the bullet results were inconclusive, he added.

Mnisi is defending Mthobisi Prince Mncube, who was found in possession of a gun linked to Meyiwa's shooting when he was arrested in a separate case in 2015.

Mangena testified he was able to determine the gun was the same one that killed the footballer after examining the projectile found on the kitchen counter at the Meyiwa crime scene and test bullets fired from the gun found in Mncube's possession.

There were a number of individual characteristics or sufficient marks, he said.

Friday's proceedings were paused to allow Mangena to go back to his office and create a chart highlighting marks from the bullet found on the Meyiwa murder scene and the test bullets he said were a match.

All parties agreed the four people who confirmed Mangena's findings should be called to court.

The matter has been postponed to Monday.

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