Central SA
#PrellerSquareShooting: Witness to be grilled in cross-examination─── LUCKY NKUYANE 12:18 Thu, 26 Nov 2020
The legal representatives of the eight men accused in the murder case of CityMed's Louis Siemens are expected to grill the state's key witness during his cross-examination on Thursday.
Xolisile Botha Mbebeto will be cross-examined in the Bloemfontein High Court on Thursday, starting with Advocate Masilo Koenane, representing the murder-accused Stanley Bakili, fencing his chance to poke holes in the testimony of Mbebeto. This after Mbebeto during his testimony incriminated Bakili, accused number 4 Mojalefa Jali Molusi, and accused number 6 Clive Tshivenga, who was also seen at the Windmill Casino a day before the murder.
Mbebeto had told the court that Bakili, the alleged mastermind behind the hit, offered him R200 000 to assassinate Siemens. Bakili has, however, always maintained that Mbebeto asked him for a job and denied that he was involved in the murder of Siemens who was gunned down in broad daylight in the basement parking area of Preller Square in 2018. Mbebeto took to the stand on Monday and testified about the role that some of the accused played in the assassination.
He testified about how Bakili stalked Siemens while plotting the murder. He and Bakili stalked Siemens at his place of residence and work for at least two days before the shooting.
He said at one point they drove to Siemens' neighbourhood, planning to shoot him at his residence, but they had to abandon the plan as they were interrupted by a concerned resident. Mbebeto said Bakili said at one point he had a friend who worked at the Bayswater Police Station who would lend him a gun.
Mbebeto testified that on the day of the murder he convinced Bakili to let him bring accused number four - Mojalefa Molusi - to help him with the driving as he had concerns about his own driving skills.
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