AKA murder trial: Gun allegedly links accused to killing
· The South African
A firearm seized from one of the men accused of murdering rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes could become a key piece of evidence in the Durban High Court trial.
The State says the weapon links accused Siyanda Eddie Myeza to the murders of AKA and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane.
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Myeza stands trial alongside six other men over the February 2023 double murder.
Police arrested him on an unlawful firearm possession charge before investigators allegedly connected the weapon to the AKA case.
STATE LINKS GUN TO AKA MURDER
Prosecutors say ballistic evidence links the firearm to the shooting that killed AKA and Tibz outside the former Wish restaurant on Durban’s Florida Road.
The State also claims the same weapon connects Myeza to a separate 2022 shooting in Mayville.
Myeza faces six additional charges stemming from that case, including murder, attempted murder and vehicle theft.
Those charges relate to the killing of Gift Khanyile and the attempted murder of two others.
Prosecutors consolidated the Mayville charges with the AKA murder case, but six of the accused now want the court to separate them.
ACCUSED FIGHT TO SPLIT CHARGES
Accused Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi brought the application on behalf of himself and five co-accused.
They argue that the Mayville charges relate only to Myeza and forcing them to sit through that evidence would unnecessarily prolong the trial and increase their legal costs.
The State opposes the application.
Senior prosecutor Elvis Gcweka told the court that witnesses, ballistic evidence and the firearm connect the two cases.
The court must now decide whether prosecutors can keep the Mayville charges in the main AKA murder trial.
SEVEN MEN DENY AKA MURDER CHARGES
All seven accused pleaded not guilty when the long-awaited trial started in Durban this week.
They face charges including conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, attempted murder and firearm offences.
Gunmen shot AKA and Tibz dead outside the Wish restaurant on 10 February 2023.
Police have maintained that AKA was the intended target.
The trial continues.