Reluctant witness takes stand in Motata trial

Judge Nkola Motata’s trial-within-a-trial continued today and Lucky Melk - the tenant of Hurlingham homeowner Richard Baird - took the stand. Melk confirmed that he contacted Baird after Motata crashed his jaguar into the property wall.

Melk also confirmed the accuracy of dialogue heard on the audio clippings that involved Motata on the day of the accident. Melk controversially told the court that he did not want to be a witness in the case but a State subpoena forced his hand.

Earlier, the defence cross-examined Baird further on the process he used to transfer cell phone video images to other media. Defence lawyer Danie Dorfling said there was no way to verify that the digital copies made available to the court were a complete reflection of the exact recordings made on the morning of January 6, 2007.

The trial has been postponed and will resume in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court next Wednesday. Magistrate Desmond Nair postponed the case to allow the State to call another witness - a Metro police officer whose voice is also on the recordings.