South Africa - Anni Dewani, 28, shot to death, Gugulethu, 13 Nov 2010 #2

[PrimeSuspect]

EWN Reporter ‏@ewnreporter 1m1 minute ago
Judge:In order to show where shooter was etc,it seems measurements are of utmost importance? Witness: you are right.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

So I'm thinking this could mean the shooter was Qwabe, not Mngeni (who just died in prison)

 

[PrimeSuspect]

News24 ‏@News24 2m2 minutes ago
Defence also independent ballistics conducted tests, will be brought in later, Botha says.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

News24 ‏@News24 1m1 minute ago
PE: the deceased's upper body was not on middle back seat. But concede this should have been tilted forward.

EWN Reporter ‏@ewnreporter 1m1 minute ago
Defence is saying the front passenger seat was in a different position in the actual vehicle compared to the test vehicle.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

So if the inference that Qwabe shot Anni, his testimony cannot be believed. :thinking:

 

[PrimeSuspect]

EWN Reporter ‏@ewnreporter 3m3 minutes ago
the "test" vehicle was used in the reenactments. But it seems the seats were in different positions in the two vehicles.

News24 ‏@News24 2m2 minutes ago
PE: If deceased on back seat in upright position, easier to make contact shot. Judge calls for adjournment.

Lunch Break. Engelbrecht still in the hot seat.

 

[jslk]

Oh bloody hell, I wasn't expecting that! I feel sorry for the ballistics guy.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Leigh-Anne Jansen ‏@LA_JANSEN 2m2 minutes ago
Proceedings have resumed. Engelbrecht remains under cross examination.

Defence only handed Engelbrecht's findings last night.

News24 ‏@News24 4m4 minutes ago
Court resumes after lunch, Pieter Botha asks Engelbrecht why ballistic report exhibit only handed in last night 9pm?

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Leigh-Anne Jansen ‏@LA_JANSEN 1m1 minute ago
PB: when did you study the postmortem photographs? PE: I already had access in 2012.

News24 ‏@News24 2m2 minutes ago
Findings made on 15 Sept, why delay to last night? PE: findings in notes, didn't feel it necessary to indicate degrees

 

[PrimeSuspect]

EWN Reporter ‏@ewnreporter 2m2 minutes ago
Back from lunch. Botha: my recollection of your evidence in chief,you clearly referred the court to a photo...

News24 ‏@News24 2m2 minutes ago
Judge asks PE about measurements done 2 weeks ago, confers with her assessors. PE takes a sip of water, feeling the heat.
Engelbrecht has done over 1000 reports - but Botha tears into his methods - photo of seat doesn't show defect, not same seat.

Leigh-Anne Jansen ‏@LA_JANSEN 2m2 minutes ago
Engelbrecht's credibility in question. Whether measurements of the Sharan he'd investigated, are accurate.
The measurements were taken about two weeks ago.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

EWN Reporter ‏@ewnreporter 1m1 minute ago
Botha: the sponge is without the leather cover, so the sponge would have been under pressure from leather.



(this is the same in Oscar Pistorius' trial, why can't ballistics recreate the crime exactly as when it happened? They have all the fine details.)

 

[PrimeSuspect]

EWN Reporter ‏@ewnreporter 3m3 minutes ago
Engelbrecht: I could see where the bullet went in, after the leather removed, could still see bullet tract, was still 4cm.

Botha: when did you determine that defects caused by a single shot?

Botha:you measured Mngeni's arm length. Can you recall his left arm was slightly crooked? Witness: he was in a wheelchair...


News24 ‏@News24 2m2 minutes ago
PE: In Serfontein's photos, back rest still had leather on, could see where bullet went in, 4cm. Also 4cm when leather removed.

Leigh-Anne Jansen ‏@LA_JANSEN 2m2 minutes ago
PB: Can you recall that his (Mngeni's ) left arm was slightly bent. PE: I tried not to put him under pressure
PE: He was in a wheelchair and came across very ill. (I can't believe this, the man died the next day, surely he could tell? Why wasn't this done months ago?)

 

[PrimeSuspect]

EWN Reporter ‏@ewnreporter 3m3 minutes ago
Botha: How does the measurement to the fingertips indicate how he would hold a gun?
Witness: YES, it would have been better to take measurement to the middle of his palm, not fingertips.

Leigh-Anne Jansen ‏@LA_JANSEN 2m2 minutes ago
PE: I didn't realise that the arm length of Mr. Mngeni would be that critical.
PE now concedes that the defence's measurements of Mngeni's arm could be correct and accepts the measurements.

EWN Reporter ‏@ewnreporter 1m1 minute ago
Botha: Mngeni's left arm couldn't straighten completely so it's 52 cm.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Leigh-Anne Jansen ‏@LA_JANSEN 1m1 minute ago
PE only measured the firearm two days ago. Not the actual firearm, but a similar one.


(where is Capt. Mangena? This feels like a Dixon and Woollie exercise.)

 

[PrimeSuspect]

EWN Reporter ‏@ewnreporter 7m7 minutes ago
Botha:It's clear that the "shooter" in the demo has his buttocks lifted off the seat.
Botha: in another photo taken during the demo, the "shooter" appears to place his right knee on driver's seat.
Witness: I think this scenario could happen in both an automatic and manual vehicle.
Botha points to a picture of the original Sharan, which has gears and two arm rests.
Botha:this is a clear indication you are miles away from being an objective expert witness.

Leigh-Anne Jansen ‏@LA_JANSEN 5m5 minutes ago
Engelbrecht's tests were done at the 11th hour. And the defence is taking full advantage of this last-minute work.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Leigh-Anne Jansen ‏@LA_JANSEN 4m4 minutes ago
PB: This is a clear indication that you are miles away from being an expert witness! A child can see the difference. :doh:

EWN Reporter ‏@ewnreporter 4m4 minutes ago
Botha: do you see that in photo's of demo, the "shooter" is not seated. Witness: yes.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

This is painful. If things proceed at this level there is no case. jmo

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Leigh-Anne Jansen ‏@LA_JANSEN 2m2 minutes ago
PB: It is clear that your evidence is false. You are not holding the tape measure against the seat.

PE: It looks like it is against the seat. PB: Is something wrong with your eyes? You are under oath!!

PB: It is at least 5cm away. PE: If that is the case, it is not because I wanted to mess up the case.

PB: What I'm putting to you is clearly correct. If it was not, my learned colleague would object and Your Ladyship..would reprimand me.

Traverso: Can't we move on? I think you've made your point.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

News24 ‏@News24 2m2 minutes ago
cross examination moves to video clips, PB asks why model in video was shown kicking, why was that relevant?

PE explains best position to kick - when in straight position, when back supported by something.

PE Contusions found on legs of deceased, shooter tried to hold leg, other leg free to kick.

PB: Videos aimed at creating picture positioning shooter at seat instead of door, not so? Defence case is Qwabe shot from door.

Scenario presented by defence, that shooter leaned into door with upper body, is possible, PE concedes.

PB reads Qwabe evidence, that Mngeni was sitting. Possible for someone in original vehicle to be seated, deliver contact shot?

PE consider that hand not necessarily against chest when shot went off. PB: Are you contesting evidence of Dr Verster?

Engelbrecht asked to read the affidavit, in which he says he examined the firearm & components.

Findings that the cartridge was fired from that firearm.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Leigh-Anne Jansen ‏@LA_JANSEN 2m2 minutes ago
PE: If both his legs were on the seat, he would not have reached the victim.

PB: You referred to Mr. Serfontein as original examiner.

PB: You said this is the affidavit, you commissioned on 23/11/2010. PE: Correct.

PB: It carries a certain amount of prima facie weight, not so? PE: Correct.

Roy McKenzie ‏@RoyMcK 31s32 seconds ago Cape Town
Public gallery noticeably emptier, exhaustive cross examination of ballistics report clearly not that captivating . (I agree,lol)