Fingerprint evidence puts murderer behind bars

Fingerprint evidence saw accused Nunu Xolani Zulu (37) being convicted of murder and sentenced to an effective 15 years’ imprisonment earlier this month.

The saga starts on a cold evening in June 2008… A delivery vehicle carrying a load of meat was leaving Ladysmith for Gauteng. The driver and his conductor stopped to make a purchase at a local filling station. While there, the driver was approached by four men who asked for a lift. Since they were travelling in the same direction, the driver decided to help them.

The vehicle stopped close to the Tugela East Toll Plaza and all four men got off. One of them walked around, opened the driver’s door and stabbed the driver. When the conductor realised what was going on, he ran off in search of help.

By the time he got back with help, the driver was dead.  The deceased, Johannes Mashiya Hadebe (30), had sustained several stab wounds to the chest and legs. A small amount of meat and cash had been removed from the vehicle.

A police crime scene expert combed the scene for clues and the vehicle was investigated for the presence of fingerprints. The murder weapon was nowhere to be found.

Since the incident took place in the Besters area, the case was registered at Besters police station and the case docket was investigated by Besters Detective Services.

Within a short space of time, Warrant Officer BA Khan, the crime scene investigator who had documented the crime scene, supplied the investigating officers, Constable SC Dube and Constable Mayisela, with an affidavit. Contained in the affidavit was a name belonging to a person whose fingerprints were found on the vehicle. It was soon established that the man mentioned in the affidavit did not work for the company concerned and therefore did not have access to the vehicle.

Police immediately started to trace the suspect. Nothing was known about the other three suspects.

In a twist of fate, the only witness in the case from whom further statements were required left the area and the suspect was granted bail. This was a blow to the investigation, but the investigating officer was determined to see that justice was done. He continued to finalise the investigation and when it was time to subpoena the witnesses to court, it was discovered that the suspect had fled the area.

A warrant of arrest was issued and the process of tracing the accused began in earnest again. During the latter part of last year, the warrant of arrest was executed and the suspect was back in police custody.

The case was placed back on the roll in the Ladysmith Regional Court.

The case hinged on fingerprint evidence and Warrant Officer BA Khan was requested to give his expert evidence, which made a valuable contribution. The case was finalised on July 12 in the Ladysmith Regional Court when Magistrate Visagie sentenced 37-year-old Nunu Xolani Zulu. In addition to an effective 15 years in prison, he was also found unfit to possess a firearm.

The accused failed to disclose the identity of his accomplices.

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