Meyiwa murder case intensifies as court dismisses Maphisa’s attempt to withdraw from trial. Image: Oupa Mokoena/ Independent Newspapers.
(ThePostNews) – Meyiwa murder case proceedings intensified after the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria rejected Mthokoziseni Maphisa’s application to have multiple charges against him withdrawn. Maphisa, one of the five men accused in the high-profile trial, had argued that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify his continued involvement in the case.
Meyiwa murder case: Court rejects weak evidence claim
To begin with, Maphisa faces charges including murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition. Despite his claim that the state lacked compelling evidence, the court disagreed and opted not to discharge him from the Meyiwa murder case.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng explained that, under South African law, discharge applications are only successful when it is clear that a conviction is impossible without the accused testifying. Importantly, silence alone cannot lead to a discharge, and a lack of self-incrimination does not automatically weaken the prosecution’s case.
Furthermore, the judge highlighted the importance of evaluating the full context of the trial. In the Meyiwa murder case, he stated that individual pieces of evidence must be viewed together, as they may reinforce each other and build a stronger case.
Meyiwa murder case: Court rules on disputed confessions
A major turning point in the Meyiwa murder case involved the admissibility of confession statements by co-accused Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya and Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi. The defense claimed the confessions were extracted through abuse. In response, the court held a five-month trial-within-a-trial to determine whether those statements were legally valid.
Ultimately, the judge found the confessions had been made voluntarily and ruled them admissible. This outcome significantly influenced the decision to keep Maphisa on trial, as the confessions implicated all five accused in the events leading to the 2014 murder of Senzo Meyiwa, which occurred at the Vosloorus home of singer Kelly Khumalo.
In summary, the Meyiwa murder case continues to evolve, with the court emphasizing that it requires a complete and fair evaluation of all available evidence. Maphisa, along with the other accused, still faces multiple charges, and the trial remains a focal point in South Africa’s legal and public discourse.
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