The late Senzo Meyiwa. Image: Twitter.
Court hears Senzo Meyiwa survived seconds or minutes after being shot
Johan Steenekamp the pathologist who performed an autopsy on Senzo Meyiwa’s body has shed more light about the examination.
The late Senzo Meyiwa. Image: Twitter.
Johan Steenekamp, the pathologist who performed an autopsy on former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa has revealed that he was shot at close range and could have survived seconds or minutes after being shot.
Steenekamp took the stand at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday, 29 August.
PATHOLOGIST TESTIFIES IN THE SENZO MEYIWA MURDER TRIAL
As previously reported by The South African, Meyiwa sustained a fatal gunshot wound at the home of his then-girlfriend and singer Kelly Khumalo in Vosloorus on 26 October 2014.
A number of witnesses have testified in court about how they rushed Meyiwa to Botshelong Hospital and how they tried to keep him alive by applying pressure on the gunshot wound. Meyiwa was certified dead on arrival.
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On Tuesday, Steenekamp told the court that he conducted an autopsy on Meyiwa’s body at Germiston mortuary on October 28 2014, two days after the soccer star died.
Steenekamp said the former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper probably would have survived seconds, minutes, but definitely not hours after he was shot.
FIREARM HELD IN CLOSE RANGE
Furthermore, Steenekamp told the court that the gun was held against Meyiwa at close range adding that the track of the wound passed downwards, backwards (from front and laterally), away from the mid-section of the body.
Steenekamp also revealed that Meyiwa’s right chest cavity contained 1,700ml of free and clotted blood.
“That’s internal blood loss from the heart as well as the lungs in that area, flowing to the chest cavity, resulting in the left lung collapsing,” he added.
ALSO READ: Senzo Meyiwa trial: Kelly Khumalo’s mom ‘tampered’ with evidence
Five men are on trial for the murder of the soccer star, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Nkani Ntuli. They face charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances, possession of firearms without a licence and possession of ammunition. All five men pleaded not guilty as the trial has started afresh under Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng.
The trial continues.
