German tourist murder trial: Accused claims he was assaulted during police questioning

The trial of the three men accused of murdering a German tourist, Jörg Schnarr (66), on the Numbi road on October 3, 2022, continues in the Mbombela High Court.

Schnarr and three other tourists were en route to a lodge near the Kruger National Park’s Numbi Gate when they were stopped by three armed suspects who ordered them to open the doors. However, Schnarr locked them instead, which led to him being shot through the window. Despite being critically wounded, he still managed to reverse about 100m from the scene before crashing into a wall.

On Monday, October 7, Napoleon Joseph Nyalunga (35), Marshall Cebo Mamba (38) and Bongumusa Fortune Matsane (25) were back in the dock again.

Sergeant Musa Mashaba of the Hazyview Local Crime Records Centre was called to testify about the photos he had taken of Nyalunga during the pointing out of the crime scene on the Numbi road. The defence argued Nyalunga was assaulted and forced to point out where the incident had occurred.

The State asked Mashaba about an unclear tattoo, which the accused claimed was not a tattoo, but a scar from an assault during police questioning. Mashaba told the court he was aware of this tattoo and confirmed it was not a scar. He also denied noticing police assaulting or coercing Nyalunga.

The defence further argued the time Mashaba said he took Nyalunga to the crime scene did not correspond to the time indicated by other witnesses, including the police officer who questioned the suspects. According to the defence, the accused could not have been in two places at once. However, Mashaba insisted he was with the accused at the specified time and refused to comment on what the other witnesses had said in court.

Judge Brian Mashile instructed the defence to let the matter go.

The trial will continue on Monday, with more witnesses called for cross-examination.