A data analyst linked suspects in the Senzo Meyiwa trial with damning cellphone evidence on Monday, revealing critical communication between the accused.
Senzo Meyiwa trial: Cellphone data spells trouble for suspects
Cellphone data analyst Gideon Gouws provided crucial evidence regarding the communication between the accused, reinforcing the prosecution’s case.
He explained how the data showed frequent contact among the suspects around the time of Meyiwa’s murder.
Gouws highlighted a web of calls between the accused from 2018 to 2020, detailing interactions between Sibiya (accused 1), Mthokoziseni Maphisa (accused 4), and Fisokuhle Ntuli (accused 5).
For instance, Sibiya contacted Maphisa 19 times, with 10 calls going through and nine going to voicemail. Sibiya also contacted Ntuli 44 times during this period.
The frequency of these calls, Gouws indicated, was critical in establishing the connections among the suspects.
Additionally, Gouws noted that some calls occurred on specific dates that might be significant to the case.
Calls were made in Vosloorus the day of Meyiwa’s murder
One significant revelation was the communication that took place in Vosloorus on the day of Senzo Meyiwa’s murder.
Gouws testified about calls made by the accused on 26 October 2014, with data showing calls originating from cellphone towers in Vosloorus, where Meyiwa was killed.
For example, accused 5, Ntuli made and received several calls from Vosloorus on that day.
This evidence places some of the suspects in the vicinity of the crime scene, which could be pivotal in the trial.
Gouws read from a supplementary affidavit where he corrected some information related to accused 3, Mthobisi Mncube’s cellphone number, further solidifying the data’s relevance.
He detailed the calls made and received by Mncube, including the times and durations, tying them to the other suspects.
This data evidence is expected to play a crucial role in the trial, helping to establish the presence and interactions of the accused on the day of the murder.
The defence and prosecution agreed to focus on the most relevant data, streamlining the presentation of evidence.
The Senzo Meyiwa trial will resume on Tuesday with Gouws back on the stand.