New evidence challenges narrative of Albert Luthuli's death

INQUEST

- BONGANI HANS

A POLICE detective tasked with looking into the 1967 death of Inkosi Albert Luthuli, who was believed to have died after being struck by a train, said contradictions and inconsistencies came to light during his investigation.

Warrant Officer Brenden Burgess told the Pietermaritzburg High Court during the re-opened inquest hearing this week that he could not conclude what led to the death of the Struggle stalwart.

However Burgess, a police crime scene management analyst who studied forensic science at the University of South Africa, ruled out that Luthuli died after being hit by the train, which was the conclusion reached by an inquest conducted shortly after his death.

The train driver, Albertus Lategan, had in 1967 told the inquest that was presided over by Magistrate CI Bosswell at the Stanger Magistrate’s Court that he saw an African man spinning after being hit by his goods train number 332.