Port Elizabeth – The defence lawyer representing two men who were alleged accomplices in Jayde Panayiotou's murder tore into the authenticity of cellphone plotting evidence presented before the Port Elizabeth High Court on Monday.
Attorney Peter Daubermann, for Zolani Sibeko and Sinethemba Nenembe, criticised forensic liaison manager from Vodacom, Johanna Heyneke, on her credentials as well as how she verified the various cellphone data.
"So you believe it's correct because Vodacom told you that it's correct?" Daubermann asked.
"Your evidence is not in your personal knowledge, you relying on what someone else has said."
However, Heyneke said she had made it clear from the start that she had obtained the information from Vodacom.
Daubermann went on further about specific equipment used for the cellphone tower-base stations.
He wanted manuals on the hardware used. He insisted that his clients needed to verify if the data before the court was in fact accurate, however, Heyneke was sceptical on how access to these manuals would assist him.
Cellphone billing for various cellphone numbers were released to the State subsequent to a court order last year.
According to the State, cellphone plotting showed Sibeko was with alleged shooter Sizwezakhe Vumazonke and Nenembe outside Jayde Panayiotou's Stelen Glen complex in Kabega just five days before she was abducted, forced into the boot of a vehicle and then taken to a remote area behind Kwanobhule, and murdered.
Vumazonke has since died. Jayde's husband, Christopher, 29, the alleged mastermind behind the crime, was arrested shortly after her murder during April 2015.
Heyneke was tasked by the State to plot cellphone towers in several areas as well as provide cellphone data to the State.
Heyneke testified that cellphone billing obtained showed detailed history of a specific SIM card, which included, incoming and outgoing calls, text messages as well as information on data activities such a Facebook and email.
She had earlier detailed a cellphone billing document – but it was unclear if the billing belonged to Panayiotou, Nenembe or Sibeko.
Heyneke had also earlier told the court that the cellphone billing data was 99.9% accurate unless a tower was struck by lightning.
Daubermann has asked for time to consult with cell phone experts. The trial continues on Tuesday.