State cross-examines Ntanzi about images downloaded from his phone

State Prosecutor Adv George Baloyi.

The state in the late former Bafana Bafana Captain Senzo Meyiwa trial continues to grill one of the accused about images downloaded from his phone.

Bongani Ntanzi is under cross-examination at the High Court in Pretoria where he is on trial alongside four others.

The five accused have been charged with Meyiwa’s killing in October 2014.

On Wednesday, State Prosecutor Adv George Baloyi began taking Ntanzi through photos said to have been downloaded from his phone.

Baloyi: “There are a serious of photos we wish to refer to, six photos. The first photo is on page 948 of 5471. Can you identify the person on that photo?”

Ntanzi: “It’s my picture.”

Baloyi: “Just before the middle of the page there is dates and time, it says 2020.09.24 and it says time 13:43:21”

Ntanzi: “Yes I can see that.”

Baloyi: “When Warrant Officer Elton Ndlovu testified he said these dates and time are the time when the photo was taken.”

Ntanzi: “That is not correct.”

Baloyi: “When he was referring to the metadata of the 18 photos. That were handed over.”

Ntanzi: “This picture that is projected before the court today, it is my first time, seeing this particular picture here and secondly this picture I was at home during the Corona days and I allowed my hair to grow like this. This picture is not of this particular date that is written on this document

EVIDENCE BUNDLE

Ntanzi’s Defence Counsel, Adv Sipho Ramosepele interjected and told the court that the photo shown in court does not form part of the evidence bundle they have before them..

Ramosepele says, “My lord, the photos that were disclosed to us, it’s exhibit 5B, the 18 photographs that include two photographs of accused number one at the end, which is photo 17 and 18. The photograph that is now here on the screen that accused number two, or the witnesses is confronted with, did not form part of that bundle that was disclosed to us.”

While another Defence Counsel Adv Charles Mnisi felt this was a trial by ambush.

Mnisi says, “In all honesty, I’m seeing this photo for the first time. I’ve never seen it. Which is the reason why I’m saying… It’s very surprising. It could constitute new information in the instance of the defence. it amounts to trial by ambush.”

However, Baloyi insists the defence was given all the relevant evidence well in advance.

“The USB containing these photos, was disclosed to the defence well in advance before Warrant Ndlovu testified. So the defence has the information.”