Part 2 Monday 10th nov
reading from bottom up
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/shrien-dewani-trial-live-updates-4601912 Shrien Dewani trial: Live updates from court as honeymoon murder case continues
Nov 10, 2014 13:59
By Sam Adams
The British millionaire is on trial accused of plotting the murder of his wife Anni during their honeymoon in South Africa in 2010
1:59 pm
Mbolombo: 'Dewani knew everything from start to finish'
Defence barrister Francois Van Zyl is continuing to cross examine Monde Mbolombo.
He asks Mbolombo whether Tongo had told him they would hijack the car and drop Shrien Dewani and Anni?
Mbolombo: "Not in the car. It was Saturday evening. I don't know what time."
Van Zyl said he had information that there was an idea between all of the plotters "excluding Mr Dewani" to take this Anni for ransom.
Mbolombo said "it was not like that at all."
Van Zyl said Shrien Dewani "will say he was not involved in a conspiracy to kill his wife."
Mbolombo replied that he wanted to also tell the court that Dewani is lying.
"He knows everything from start to finish."
1:36 pm
Van Zyl: 'You knew the lady would be killed'
Trial: Dewani and Anni had only been married a few weeks when she was killed
Defence barrister Van Zyl asks whether Mbolombo tried to find out if the killing had taken place.
Molombo said he tried to make contact on the Sunday.
Van Zyl said: "I'm talking about Saturday night. You knew the lady would be killed."
Mbolombo said he doesn't deny that.
Van Zyl asks him if anyone had reported to him whether the operation had been a "success."
Mbolombo said "no." He said he did not try to find out on the Saturday evening, even though he wanted to know what had happened.
Molombo told the court that he had agreed that if the police asked him any questions he would say "I don't know."
When asked whether he had discussed placing the blame on Shrien Dewani he said no.
Van Zyl asks him whether he had anything to do with the arrangements to have the Anni Dewani killed?
Mbolombo: "That's correct, because Tongo told me."
1:12 pm
Van Zyl to Mbolombo: 'You were very much in charge'
Getty Shrien Dewani arrives at the Western Cape High Court
Trial: Shrien Dewani is on trial for murder in Cape Town
Shrien Dewani's defence barrister Francois Van Zyl puts it to Mbolombo that he knew that on Saturday afternoon (November 13, 2010) the car Shrien Dewani and Anni were travelling in would be hijacked and a woman taken and killed.
Van Zyl disputes Mbolombo's story that he had spoken by phone with taxi driver Zola Tongo while Tongo was in a restaurant with the Dewanis.
Mbolomo replies that what he said "in relation to time is the truth."
Van Zyl said: "What I am saying is that you, sir, were very much in charge."
Mbolombo agrees with him.
12:33 pm
Van Zyl quizzed Mbolombo about the day of the murder
Enterprise news and pictures Anni Dewani
Shooting: Shrien Dewani is on trial accused of murdering wife Anni Dewani (pictured)
Van Zyl is quizzing Mbolombo about the day of the murder.
Van Zyl: "Can you tell the court, the call when [taxi driver Zola Tongo] told you he's with the couple [Shrien and Anni Dewani] at the restaurant. When was that call made?"
Mbolombo said it was late in the evening and that he couldn't remember the exact time.
Van Zyl: "I do not see a call where you called Tongo other than [6.38pm] where he could explain he's sitting at a table with the couple."
Mbolomo said he did receive a call where Tongo told him that.
"I'm not sure if he made the call or I made the call," Mbolombo said.
12:19 pm
Mbolombo: 'We were talking about planning to kill this woman'
PA Mziwamadoda Qwabe
Mziwamadoda Qwabe: One of the men convicted of murdering Anni
Shrien Dewani's defence barrister Francois Van Zyl resumes his cross-examination of state witness Monde Mbolombo.
Mbolombo admitted before lunch that he had made efforts to ensure the killing went ahead.
Van Zyl asks him what was said during the phone calls between him and convicted killer Mziwamadoda Qwabe.
Mbolombo: "As I mentioned, I won't be able to say exactly what was said, but it was about the planning to kill this woman."
Addressing Mbolombo, Judge Jeannette Traverso said: "the very first day you took the stand, I put it to you that you decided to take a leading role in this.
"You said yes you took a leading role. Did you maintain this leading role throughout?"
Mbolombo said that this was correct.
Van Zyl said the calls confirm that Mbolombo had a leading role in the plot.
"I don't dispute that," Mbolombo said.
11:53 am
Mbolombo: 'It was a matter of MUST that it happened that Saturday'
Mbolombo said what he knew was that "it was a matter of MUST - that it [the killing] had to happen that Saturday."
Traverso: "I'm going to ask you the last time. Who said it was a matter of must?"
"Tongo," Mbolombo replied.
Referring to a phone call between Mbolombo and Qwabe, Van Zyl said: "It's that thing we talked about, it must happen today."
Van Zyl: "What were you referring to?"
Mbolombo: "What I was saying is this lady had to be killed on that day, Saturday."
Van Zyl asked Molombo why he said that to Qwabe at that time.
Molombo: "Maybe he had doubts, that's why."
Shrien Dewani's trial continues.
11:51 am
Recap on this morning's session
The alleged 'link man' in the plot to murder Anni Dewani has told a court how he made sure the killing took place.
Former hotel receptionist Monde Mbolombo made the chilling admission this morning during the ongoing trial of British millionaire Shrien Dewani.
Dewani is accused of plotting the murder of his wife Anni during their honeymoon in South Africa in 2010. She was shot dead when their car was ambushed in Cape Town.
Three men, taxi driver Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni, 23, were jailed for Anni's murder.
Mbolombo struck a deal with prosecutors in the cases of others involved in the plot.
PA CCTV still of Monde Mbolombo on the phone to Zola Tongo, as the the BBC programme investigates the death of 28-year-old Anni Dewani
Under cross-examination this morning by Dewani's defence barrister Francois Van Zyl, Mbolombo detailed his conversation with Tongo, about the plan to kill Anni.
Mbolombo: "That's what I asked him long ago, on the way to my work. I asked him why it was necessary that it happens that night."
Mbolombo said he told Tongo it must happen on Saturday.
Van Zyl tells Mbolombo that this suggests he was "taking control" of the plot. "You were giving instructions," he said.
Mbolombo agreed with this and said "I was making sure the job was done. Since there was money to be received, I wanted to make sure it happened."
Judge Jeanette Traverso asked Mbolombo whether he was only going to get money after it happened?
Mbolombo said what he knew was that "it was a matter of MUST - that it had to happen that Saturday."
Traverso: "I'm going to ask you the last time. Who said it was a matter of must?"
"Tongo," Mbolombo replied.
11:11 am
Van Zyl: 'You were taking control here, giving instructions'
Shrien Dewani's defence barrister Francois Van Zyl continued to grill state witness Mbolombo before lunch.
He asked Mbolombo when he discussed Anni's murder with Tongo?
Mbolombo: "That's what I asked him long ago, on the way to my work. I asked him why it was necessary that it happens that night."
Van Zyl: "In the car, that Saturday afternoon, sir, Tongo was explaining to you, I presume that there was going to be a false hijacking that night. Did he say what time?"
Mbolombo said he told Tongo it must happen on Saturday.
Van Zyl tells Mbolombo that he was "taking control here. You were giving instructions."
Mbolombo agreed with this and said "I was making sure the job was done."
"Since there was money to be received, I wanted to make sure it happened."
Judge Traverso asked whether he was only going to get money after it happened?
Mbolombo said what he knew was that "it was a matter of MUST, that it had to happen that Saturday."
Traverso: "I'm going to ask you the last time. Who said it was a matter of must?"
Mbolombo: "Tongo."
Traverso: When?
Mbolombo: "When we were driving to my work, My Lady."
11:01 am
Mbolombo: 'I said this lady had to be killed on Saturday'
Holiday: Shrien and Anni Dewani at their hotel
Mbolombo has been questioned by Van Zyl on his alleged role in the planning of Anni's murder.
Referring to his contact with Zola Tongo and Qwabe - Van Zyl said: "Your contact was mainly driven by curiosity. That right?
Mbolombo said that is correct.
Referring to a phone call between Mbolombo and Qwabe, Van Zyl said: "It's that thing we talked about, it must happen today."
Van Zyl: "What were you referring to?"
Mbolombo: "What I was saying is this lady had to be killed on that day, Saturday."
Van Zyl asked Molombo why he said that to Qwabe at that time.
Molombo: "Maybe he had doubts, that's why."
Van Zyl: "But you were not involved in the arrangements, as I understand you. That was between Qwabe and Tongo, right?
Mbolombo said that is correct.
Van Zyl asked Mbolombo why he told Qwabe "at about 21:30" that the job had to be done?
Mbolombo said this is what was discussed between him and Tongo.
"He told me that this must happen that Saturday night."
10:42 am
Lunchtime recap part 2
Mbolombo replied: "I excluded whatever involved me."
Care home tycoon Dewani, 34, from Westbury-on-Trym, is on trial for allegedly plotting with Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and gunman Xolile Mngeni to kill Anni while they were on their honeymoon.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges including kidnapping, murder and defeating the ends of justice.
He claims the couple were hijacked as Tongo was driving them through Gugulethu in his minibus on Saturday November 13. He was released unharmed and Anni was driven away. She was found shot dead in the abandoned minibus in Khayelitsha the next morning.
Tongo is serving an 18-year jail term while Qwabe is part-way through a 25-year sentence for their roles in the murder. Mngeni was serving life in jail for firing the shot that killed Anni but died in prison from a brain tumour on October 18.
Prosecutors claim Dewani conspired with others to stage the hijacking, offering them 15,000 rand - less than £1,000 at the 2010 exchange rate.
But Dewani maintains that Tongo helped him organise a surprise helicopter trip for Anni for 15,000 rand and that he knew nothing about his wife's planned kidnap and murder.
Dewani denies all charges.
The trial, which is listed to last until mid-December, continues.
10:40 am
Lunchtime recap part 1
PA CCTV still of Monde Mbolombo on the phone to Zola Tongo, as the the BBC programme investigates the death of 28-year-old Anni Dewani
Footage: CCTV still of Monde Mbolombo allegedly on the phone to Zola Tongo on the BBC's Panorama programme
A hotel receptionist dubbed "the link man" in a plot to murder the wife of a millionaire from the Bristol area on their honeymoon has admitted inconsistencies in his evidence to a South African court.
Monde Mbolombo admitted he attempted to "protect himself" when giving varied accounts about apparent "hit money" involved in the death of Anni Dewani, 28, in a rough suburb of Cape Town in November 2010.
Mbolombo was told that he may no longer be immune from prosecution, having struck a deal with prosecutors in the cases of others involved in the plot.
Three men have already been convicted. Bristol-based entrepreneur Shrien Dewani is currently on trial for the murder.
Mbolombo told Western Cape High Court he would give the whole truth during this testimony after admitting he had lied in two statements and in previous disclosures to minimise his role in Anni's murder.
During his evidence-in-chief on Thursday he said he spoke to his accomplice, shuttle taxi driver Zola Tongo, about the possibility of a 5000 rand (£280) commission.
Defence counsel Francois van Zyl asked why this was not mentioned in his third statement which he gave in September this year, and which was said to be the "correct" one.
Mbolombo said it must have slipped his mind and that he had attempted to protect himself at the time.
Mr van Zyl asked: "Isn't the true explanation just that you are a liar?"
10:38 am
Mbolombo: 'They met to discuss how she was going to be killed"
The scene where Anni Dewani was murdered in Cape Town, South Africa (Pic: Getty)
The scene where Anni Dewani was murdered in Cape Town, South Africa (Pic: Getty)
Van Zyl asks Mbolombo whether he arranged a time for his meeting with Qwabe.
He replies that he didn't.
Van Zyl: "Why did you text Qwabe shortly after this call?"
Mbolombo said he was telling him that Zola Tongo "said he will be on his way to Khayelitsha and asked if Zola told him."
Van Zyl: "What did he say?
Mbolombo: "He said Zola hadn't told him yet. I said that we must meet but I have to go to work late afternoon."
Van Zyl asks why he said "we must meet?"
Mbolombo: "Because Zola and Abongile [Qwabe] didn't know each other and I had to introduce them.
Van Zyl asks Mbolombo what was going to be discussed?
Mbolombo: "I think the manner in which the later would be killed."
