A Gqeberha woman who died after she was allegedly thrown from a fourth-floor balcony was still alive when her body hit the ground.
This was the testimony of a forensic pathologist who examined 39-year-old Andiswa Mpiyana's body after her death.
Mpiyana's boyfriend, 55-year-old Malibongwe Dwabayo is currently on trial in the city's High Court, in connection with her premeditated murder.
Her body was discovered on 3 July 2022 in the parking lot of the block of flats where the accused lived in Central.
The state alleges that the couple was involved in an argument inside the flat during the early hours before the discovery of her body.
It is alleged that they struggled physically and that the struggle continued to the balcony.
According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly picked up the deceased and threw her over the balcony.
Specialist forensic pathologist Dr Annemarie Matthews testified that she examined Mpiyana's body on 4 July 2022.
According to Matthews, Mpiyana's injuries were consistent with someone who either fell or was thrown from a three or four-storey building.
The court heard that most of her injuries were on the right side of the body, which meant that is where she took the fall.
Matthews told State Advocate Ismat Cerfontein that Mpiyana was alive when the injuries were inflicted.
She concluded this based on the bruising and the "vital reactions" to her injuries.
Mpiyana bled from her injuries.
"Her death would have been very sudden and very quick," Matthews testified.
Mpiyana's mother, Liziwe Manyandlela, 65, testified that she was left to take care of her two children after she died.
To this day, she battles to sleep at night.
According to Manyandlela, Mpiyana's 16-year-old daughter and her 9-year-old son are still battling to come to terms with their mother's death.
"The children are constantly crying and they keep asking when the case will reach finality."
Manyandlela broke down when she told the court how the family had not received any counseling because they could not afford it.
Dwabayo has pleaded not guilty to the crime and the trial continues.
He is out on bail.
