Ballistics witness provides crucial gun evidence in ‘AKA’ murder trial

One of the two firearms used to kill world-renowned rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend, Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, could be linked to five other crimes, said a ballistics expert in the KwaZulu-Natal high court in Durban on Monday.

Ruwain Kader was giving evidence in the trial of seven men accused of killing Forbes and Motsoane.

Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 23, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, 36, Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Ndimande, 29, Malusi Dave, 30, and Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande, 31, have pleaded not guilty to the charges, including murder, attempted murder and the illegal possession of a firearm.

Kader told the court that one of the firearms used to kill Durban taxi boss Sibongiseni “Gift” Khanyile in Mayville, Durban, in 2022, had also been used in the murders of Forbes and Motsoane in 2023.

He said 35 cartridges had been found at Khanyile’s murder scene and four firearms were used during the killing.

Kader told the court that six cartridges were found at the scene where Forbes and Motsoane had been murdered. Two cartridges found at the scene were linked to the firearm found on accused number three, Siyanda Eddie Myeza.

However, he said the firearm found on Myeza was not linked to the Mayville case.

Kader said four cartridges linked to the Forbes case were believed to have been fired from two unknown guns used in the murder of Khanyile.

Defence advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa said Myeza has disputed that a firearm was found on him during his arrest, arguing that it was found in a room where he had been with six other men.