South African Police Services SAPS Forensic Analyst, warrant officer Sunette Nel has told the High Court in Pietermaritzburg that she believes former African National Congress ANC president Chief Albert Luthuli was assaulted on his way between his shop and the Gledo train station.
Nel, working with the investigating team, conducted a simulation of the accident scene in the re-opened inquest into Luthulis death.
Luthuli died in 1967 after being reportedly hit by a goods train in Groutville.
This inquest seeks to overturn the findings of the original one in 1967. Nel believes after being assaulted, Luthuli was then dumped on the railway line before the train arrived.
She is dismissing the version of the train driver - Stephanus Albertus Lategan who said Luthuli was hit by the train.