Cape Town - An independent analysis of musician Arno Carstens' blood revealed the same alcohol level as that found by the state laboratory, the Cape Town Magistrate's Court heard on Wednesday.
Dr Tim Lourens, the head of forensic toxicology at the University of Pretoria, analysed the gas chromatography results from the file of state forensic analyst Pakama Pati.
The blood sample was taken from Carstens when he was arrested three years ago for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.
He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of drunk driving, alternatively driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.20 percent.
The 0.20 percent level came from Pati's analysis. The legal limit is 0.05 percent.
Lourens testified his finding was almost identical.
“The mean value of the alcohol concentration is 0.21,” he said from the stand.
“That is the concentration of the accused's blood sample, of ethanol, in grams per decigram.”
He said there a possible bias of 0.001 percent.
Earlier, Carstens' lawyer Milton de la Harpe objected to the questioning of Lourens. He claimed the defence had not been given all the summary documents and other data relating to his testimony.
“All of a sudden a document is handed in or the State wants to lead evidence,” he said.
“This is the first time we've set sight on this documentation.”
Prosecutor Andy Hess said the defence had been given access to Pati's file from the start.
Magistrate Nadia Banwari allowed the testimony to proceed.
The trial continues on November 19.
Sapa