Murder-trial witness firm under pressure

[caption id="attachment_36673" align="alignright" width="405"] BREAK IN PROCEEDINGS: Mbasa Mani, 25, right, chats to his younger brother, Thabi Mani, 21, in the Port Elizabeth High Court in Bird Street. Picture: BRIAN WITBOOI[/caption]

THE defence counsel representing a man charged with murder, attempted murder and robbery tried to poke holes in the testimony of a witness yesterday.

Mbasa Mani, 25, is accused of murdering Bulelani Mani in Veeplaas on January 21 last year. He is also accused of the attempted murder of Nomfusi Labi on February 12.

The state is alleging he shot Labi in the arm before robbing her of her handbag.

Yesterday, Ntobeko Nyakatya, 36, told the court he was with Bulelani Mani on the day he was killed, allegedly by the accused. Nyakatya also pointed Mani out in court as the man who had fired the gun that day.

He said he was with Bulelani and two other friends when they lost track of one of the friends, Lunga Maqana, who is also known as Peace. - Lee-Anne Butler