A defence witness testifying on behalf of a friend accused of kidnapping and raping a student changed his version of events in the Port Elizabeth High Court on Wednesday after chatting to his friend during the tea break.
Jama Mbete first claimed he had seen Mziyanda Kana, 31, during the afternoon of October 2 2016 but later said he had made a mistake and had not in fact seen him at all.
Kana and Mziyanda Yoyo, 32, are facing a string of charges including kidnapping, rape, attempted murder and assault.
It is alleged they kidnapped the former Nelson Mandela University student, 26, who cannot be named, outside the Cafe Loxion nightclub in Central before taking her to a property in Walmer township and raping her.
It is alleged they and a third unidentified man then took her to a bushy area near Schoenmakerskop where they further assaulted her and tried to shoot her.
The firearm jammed and one of the men then allegedly fetched a steel pole from the car they were driving and bludgeoned the woman.
She was left for dead but staggered about a kilometre through the bush before collapsing on the shoulder of Victoria Drive.
A passerby who saw her lying there alerted police.
Mbete confirmed he had spoken to Kana about the case, but denied he had altered his evidence after the chat.
Both accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges.