The Pretoria High Court has dismissed an application for acquittal by Mthokoziseni Maphisa, one of the five men accused of murdering Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa in 2014.
Maphisa had sought to be discharged in terms of section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, arguing that the State had failed to present sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction.
His defence team maintained that no reasonable court could find him guilty based on the case presented thus far.
Delivering judgment after a two-hour ruling on Tuesday, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng rejected the application, finding that there was prima facie evidence against Maphisa that required an answer.
The court highlighted elements such as photographic and cellphone data linking him to the case.
Maphisa, who was arrested in 2020 alongside four co-accused, will now be required to present his defence as the high-profile trial continues.
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