14th oct 2014 court
Shrien Dewani trial: Recap updates as British millionaire claims Anni was shot 'by accident' Oct 14, 2014 12:25 By Anthony Bond, Steve Robson The 34-year-old denies being part of a plot to murder his new bride during their honeymoon in 2010 7:27 am British millionaire Shrien Dewani is back in court to deny being part of a plot to murder his new wife during their honeymoon in 2010.
Anni Dewani was found shot dead in a taxi a suburb of South Africa's capital Cape Town.
Shrien survived the incident and is accused of orchestrating a plan to have her killed and make it look like a robbery.
Yesterday his lawyers claimed his bride's kidnapper's freed him because they "knew he had money".
They also claimed Anni's shooting was an accident.
It was the first time Dewani has offered a reason he survived the carjacking.
7:33 am Rape struggle ended in Anni's shooting
Dewani's legal team said the Bristol care home owner was only released because the attackers realised he was wealthy and would be able to demand a ransom for their hostage.
Her attackers were to extort the ransom in exchange for their captive after Dewani had gone to the police.
PA
But Mr Francois Van Zyl, acting for Dewani, said prosecution witness Mziwamadoda Qwabe had gone to the rear of the vehicle and attempted to pull Anni out of the car and she was accidentally shot in the struggle.
7:34 am Shooting 'not an execution' claim defence
Qwabe, 29, who has been convicted of Anni's killing, has told the court that his accomplice shot Mrs Dewani after they agreed to carry out the hit for her husband for a payment of £1,300.
But Mr van Zyl accused him of misleading the court.
The lawyer said: "The gunshot is not what one would normally see in an execution type killing.
"It’s not what pathologists normally see when a person has been executed.
"It has all the hallmarks of a shot that went off when it wasn’t supposed to go off."
9:26 am We're now up and running in South Africa.
ANC members were singing on court steps as both Hindocha and Dewani families arrive.
First up in witness box today thought to be Met police officers Mark Roberts, who will tell the court about Dewani's Dell laptop.
Roberts is top computer expert with MSC degree.
9:28 am Roberts says on 3 June 2010 Anni Dewani profile made on the laptop. Previous profile belonged to accused Shrien.
His profile created 17 Jan 2010.
The last activity on laptop was 20 April 2010. Jan and April activity was mainly email type. We are being told about email and data.
Dewani had imported old email files onto laptop. Keywords he used were family names, places in SA, gay fetish rubber and watersports.
Roberts found "lot of email activity between Dewani and a third person". Third person not identified.
June and Aug 2009, 53 messages from a third person.
9:30 am Dewani was 'conflicted about whether to get married or come out'
Getty
Shrien Dewani appears at Western Cape High Court for the start of his trial
The emails are relevant says prosecutor Mopp.
The defence objects.
Mopp says Dewani's sexuality is revelent and trying to plead with doubtful judge.
The judge questions Mopp about why the emails necessary.
Mopp says Dewani "was conflicted about whether to get married or come out".
9:32 am The judge asks whether Dewani's indecision over marriage was "a motive to kill. " She is hardening her attitude against email evidence.
The defence lawyer Van Zyl is explaining there are only three references which amount to 'cold feet' (about marriage) and it's not relevant to Anni's murder.
Dewani, in the dock behind, is nodding.
9:36 am Is Dewani's sexuality relevant to the case?
The prosecution says in Sept 2009, Dewani expressed similar conflict (about marriage and his sexuality) to a witness who will be called.
Judge Traverso told the accused's sexuality is "not something we can run away from'.
But the judge replies: "Whether he's bisexual,gay doesn't matter."
The prosecution insist it is, and in fact, it's central to their case.
The judge is retiring to consider this.
9:45 am Major blow for prosecution
The judge has just ruled that evidence about the emails concerning Dewani's sexuality inadmissable.
She's essentially said she doesn't see it as relevant to the case.
It's a major blow for the prosecution and they are so taken aback they don't even have another witness prepared.
Met officer Mark Roberts, who was presumably flown over from the UK, has to leave the stand.
The prosecution will have to have a total re-think now.
10:16 am Court resumes
The court is now back in session.
The prosecution team were dealt a huge blow before the break and it will be fascinating to see how they respond.
10:27 am Police officer takes to the stand
Police officer George Stefanus has now taken to the stand.
He was called about the hijacking of a taxi on the night of Anni's murder.
The detective spoke to taxi driver Zola Tongo – who has already been jailed for the murder.
He told the police officer of a hijacking involving his passengers.
10:35 am Dewani was 'emotional' as search went on for missing wife
Mr Stefanus tells the court how he met Dewani at the Cape Grace hotel as search went on for missing Anni.
He describes his state of mind as "emotional".
10:46 am Anni 'insisted' on seeing life in the townships
Dewani told Mr Stefanus that his wife "insisted" she wanted to see life in the townships to the taxi driver.
In the police statement, Dewani also gave police officers details of items stolen.
He said Anni put her wedding ring under the car seat. Her bag, phone and cash were all taken.
10:52 am Dewani didn't want to read over police statement
After Mr Stefanus has finished taking Dewani's statement, he asked the millionaire if he would like to read through it.
However, he declined the offer, saying "we've gone through this".
11:01 am Police officer lost his notes from interviewing Dewani
The court has heard how Mr Stefanus lost his pocket-book containing his notes from interviewing Dewani.
When Dewani's defence team asked for it, they were told it was missing.
The officer handed it in but it could not be found at the police station.
11:10 am Dewani's police statement was not taken under oath
The police statement Dewani gave on the night his wife died was not sworn under oath, it has emerged.
Mr Stefanus says Dewani didn't put his hand up and say "so help me god."
11:18 am Dewani told police: "I hope they didn't kill Anni"
Dewani was crying and told police: "I hope they didnt kill Anni – I hope Anni's OK" on the night she was reported to have been kidnapped.
It also emerged it was two-and-a-half hours before police took a statement from Dewani over his wife's disappearance.
11:27 am Police took so long to take Dewani's statement because he was stressed
Mr Stefanus says police took so long to take down Dewani's statement because of his stress.
The police officer was also asked in court why a helicopter was not used in the search for Anni.
He told the court it was "dark at that stage".
11:36 am Police officer under pressure
Mr Stefanus is coming under increasing pressure in the dock from Dewani's defence team.
The word 'township' was apparently said by Dewani during his statement to police on the night Anni went missing.
However, the millionaire's lawyer Francois van Zyl says the word was not in his client's vocabulary at the time.
11:46 am Defence team claim police statement is inaccurate
Dewani's defence team are attempting to completely discredit the statement police took from Dewani on the night his wife disappeared.
Dewani claims the chronology of the statement is incorrect. The police officer claims Dewani told him he had 4000 rand on him.
However, Dewani claims he gave the figure of money in sterling.
11:54 am Owner of jewellers takes to the stand
Mr Stefanus has now finished giving evidence and a new witness has taken to the stand.
Her name is Maria and she is the owner of a jewellers called Golden Touch.
She buys and sells coins and antiques.
12:07 pm Maria begins to tell the court about a money exchange she did with Dewani.
Mr Van Zyl says Dewani never had dollars with him. He exchanged pounds at various locations. Dewani nodded agreement.
12:13 pm Court adjourned until Monday because of chickenpoxBizarrely, the court has now adjourned until Monday because a member of the prosecution team has chickenpox.
Prosecutor Adrian Mopp asked the judge for the break, which she granted.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/shrien-dewani-trial-recap-updates-4433656#ixzz3G7Szaf7n Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook