Cape Town – The way in which the crime scene investigator collected evidence was called into question by the defence team of Henri van Breda.
Pieter Botha continued his cross-examination of Andre Hitchcock, who collected photographic evidence and was the crime scene investigator, taking forensic samples and videos of the crime scene.
Botha said there were mistakes in the evidence labelling.
Botha questioned Hitchcock on the movement of a Captain Joubert, who was captured in one of Hitchcock’s photos.
Captain Joubert is an expert in blood spatter.
He also analysed bloody footprints at the murder scene.
Hitchcock had in one instance made a note in his forensic report that he had collected a sample, but photos revealed that it was actually Captain Joubert who had collected the sample.
Hitchcock then recalled that it was Joubert who sprayed the chemical to detect blood evidence, but that he was the one who recorded it.
Botha also questioned Hitchcock about the chronological order he recorded the photographic evidence.
Botha then went on to point out to the witness that the labelling of evidence looked different from the photo album, the numbers on photos didn’t seem consistent.
Botha referred Hitchcock to his notes where he speaks about red and white socks, a blue T-shirt and a grey towel.
The evidence numbers in his notes didn’t correspond with the exhibits, to which Hitchcock replied he marked it incorrectly.
Prosecutor Susan Galloway asked that Hitchcock step down until today, as she has a few additional questions to ask him, which Judge Siraj Desai allowed.
Galloway also wants to submit an affidavit by Warrant Officer Lorraine Nel, but Botha said she needs to be in court so that she can be cross-examined on the testimony.
Galloway said that a DNA expert will also be called.
The trial continues.