05/06/2026
๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ | ๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐ก๐
The bail application of senior SAPS Captain Laurence Makgotloe, a forensic ballistics expert, is set to continue in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Tuesday as the state opposes his release.
Makgotloe faces serious charges linked to the alleged tampering of ballistic evidence in two high-profile murder investigations.
On Thursday, the court heard testimony from the stateโs first witness, Warrant Officer Xolani Sokhanyile, who was subjected to intense cross-examination by defence lawyer Emile Viviers.
The defence challenged key parts of the stateโs affidavit, pointing out inconsistencies and grammatical errors, while also questioning whether Makgotloe could have known the origin of the disputed forensic evidence found at his home.
Under questioning, the state witness initially suggested the accused may have been informed by another suspect, but later conceded that this claim was based on assumption rather than direct evidence.
Sokhanyile ultimately agreed that the allegation linking Makgotloe to knowledge of the murder-related evidence was โspeculation, not factโ, and that there was โno direct linkageโ.
The matter has now been postponed to 9 June for the continuation of the bail proceedings.
DOES THIS CASE RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF FORENSIC EXPERT TESTIMONY IN COURT?
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