The Pretoria High Court has once again been gripped by the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, with the spotlight firmly on the alleged actions of singer Kelly Khumalo, the former girlfriend of the slain Bafana Bafana captain.
Retired police colonel and cellphone analyst Lambertus Steyn, who was recalled to clarify evidence about alleged communications between Khumalo and accused number 5, Fisokuhle Ntuli, is being cross-examined by defence lawyer Thulani Mngomezulu.
Steyn's testimony has revealed that Khumalo's phone was wiped clean just hours after Meyiwa's murder, raising eyebrows and prompting questions about the extent of her involvement in the case.
The alleged cellphone reboot on Khumalo’s phone has become a central point of contention in the trial. The defence has grilled Steyn on whether there was an attempt to wipe out the phone and whether the data on Khumalo’s phone was legally obtained.
"You talk about the rebooting. Is it rebooting or reset?" Mngomezulu questioned Steyn. "It’s the same thing. You go to factory settings and give instruction to delete everything in your phone," Steyn responded.
The defence argued that the information on Khumalo’s phone was unlawfully obtained and her rights violated. However, Steyn maintains that he was requested to look into the phone records of Khumalo as she was then a "person of interest" and not a suspect at the time.
"Because she was one of the people inside the house. She was one of the witnesses at that stage," Steyn explained to the court, clarifying his previous statement that Khumalo was not a suspect.
The defence also questioned why the analysis of Khumalo's phone data was only conducted six years after the murder, in 2020. Steyn explained that he was only called in to assist Brigadier Gininda, who was appointed to work on the case.
"So after a period of six years that’s when you conducted the analysis? From 2014 up until 2020 there was no analysis done?" Mngomezulu pressed. Steyn acknowledged this delay, stating that while there was some initial analysis, Gininda's appointment prompted him to assist with a more thorough investigation.
The defence's relentless questioning of Steyn's testimony highlights the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Khumalo's role in the events leading up to Meyiwa's death. The fact that her phone was wiped clean shortly after the murder, combined with the delay in analysing the data, has fuelled speculation and raised questions about her potential involvement.
Despite the intense scrutiny, Steyn maintains that Khumalo was not a suspect in the case and was only investigated as a person of interest. He also emphasized that the ownership of the phone number 202, belonging to accused number 5, Fisokuhle Ntuli, was confirmed through enatis and bank statements.
The trial continues, with the defence's cross-examination of Steyn expected to shed further light on the events surrounding Meyiwa's murder. The court will need to determine whether the information obtained from Khumalo's phone was legally obtained and whether her actions on the night of the murder warrant further investigation.
The case remains shrouded in mystery, with the defence's relentless pursuit of answers from Steyn suggesting that the truth surrounding Senzo Meyiwa's death is far from being revealed.
