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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/13/shrien-dewani-trial-killers-intention-kidnap-and-ransom-court-hears
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| Dewani trial: killers’ intention was kidnap and ransom, court hears | Dewani trial: killers’ intention was kidnap and ransom, court hears |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The real intention of the killers of Anni Dewani, who was shot dead on her honeymoon, was kidnap and ransom, the murder trial of her husband was told. | The real intention of the killers of Anni Dewani, who was shot dead on her honeymoon, was kidnap and ransom, the murder trial of her husband was told. |
| The two men, who hijacked a taxi in which the victim and her husband, Shrien, were travelling, had meant to release the husband and later demand a ransom “because they knew he had money”, it was claimed. | The two men, who hijacked a taxi in which the victim and her husband, Shrien, were travelling, had meant to release the husband and later demand a ransom “because they knew he had money”, it was claimed. |
| Shrien Dewani was to later receive a demand for money to release his wife, it was alleged. | Shrien Dewani was to later receive a demand for money to release his wife, it was alleged. |
| Dewani’s defence counsel François van Zyl claimed the gunshot that killed the 28-year-old had been discharged accidentally and that the attackers were going to rape the bride and exchange her for a ransom. | Dewani’s defence counsel François van Zyl claimed the gunshot that killed the 28-year-old had been discharged accidentally and that the attackers were going to rape the bride and exchange her for a ransom. |
| The fourth day of the trial of Dewani, a 34-year-old businessman from Bristol, heard that convicted gunman and prosecution witness Mziwamadoda Qwabe had asked prosecutors before last Wednesday’s court session for a reduction in his 25-year jail sentence in return for appearing as a state witness. | The fourth day of the trial of Dewani, a 34-year-old businessman from Bristol, heard that convicted gunman and prosecution witness Mziwamadoda Qwabe had asked prosecutors before last Wednesday’s court session for a reduction in his 25-year jail sentence in return for appearing as a state witness. |
| Anni Dewani from Sweden, who married the accused a few weeks before her death, was killed by a single bullet to the neck in the back seat of the car in Khayelitsha, a township suburb of Cape Town, in November 2010. | Anni Dewani from Sweden, who married the accused a few weeks before her death, was killed by a single bullet to the neck in the back seat of the car in Khayelitsha, a township suburb of Cape Town, in November 2010. |
| Three men – Qwabe, Xolili Mngeni and taxi driver Zola Tongo – have been jailed for the murder, and Qwabe and Tongo accuse Shrien Dewani of orchestrating the killing. | Three men – Qwabe, Xolili Mngeni and taxi driver Zola Tongo – have been jailed for the murder, and Qwabe and Tongo accuse Shrien Dewani of orchestrating the killing. |
| Dewani denies five charges, including two of kidnap and murder, and will give evidence in his own defence, Judge Jeanette Traverso was told. | |
| Van Zyl told the Western Cape high court that members of the defence team had visited Mngeni in jail and taken measurements of his arms, and because of the length they extended, he could not, as Qwabe insisted, have fired from the front seat. | Van Zyl told the Western Cape high court that members of the defence team had visited Mngeni in jail and taken measurements of his arms, and because of the length they extended, he could not, as Qwabe insisted, have fired from the front seat. |
| The barrel of the gun would have been in close proximity to the victim’s hand, he said. | The barrel of the gun would have been in close proximity to the victim’s hand, he said. |
| “Mngeni could not have reached her hand if he was sitting in front,” said Van Zyl. | “Mngeni could not have reached her hand if he was sitting in front,” said Van Zyl. |
| Qwabe, who was in the witness box for a third day, insisted Mngeni shot Anni Dewani from the front passenger seat of the VW Sharan as he drove the vehicle after forcing Tongo out and releasing Shrien. | Qwabe, who was in the witness box for a third day, insisted Mngeni shot Anni Dewani from the front passenger seat of the VW Sharan as he drove the vehicle after forcing Tongo out and releasing Shrien. |
| Qwabe said he was shocked when he heard the gunshot as there had been no definitive plan for where to shoot the victim and how to dispose of her body. | |
| But Van Zyl said testimony by a ballistics expert and pathologist would prove that the barrel of the gun touched Anni Dewani’s hand when the fatal shot was fired and this would mean the gunman was at the back of the car. | But Van Zyl said testimony by a ballistics expert and pathologist would prove that the barrel of the gun touched Anni Dewani’s hand when the fatal shot was fired and this would mean the gunman was at the back of the car. |
| He added: “He [Shrien Dewani] never instructed anybody to kill his wife. Those who are testifying this are not telling the truth. You were trying to pull her leg while you were standing outside the car.” | He added: “He [Shrien Dewani] never instructed anybody to kill his wife. Those who are testifying this are not telling the truth. You were trying to pull her leg while you were standing outside the car.” |
| Van Zyl accused Qwabe of being the gunman and lying in the witness box. He added that gunshot residue found on one of Qwabe’s gloves could only mean that he fired the fatal shot. | Van Zyl accused Qwabe of being the gunman and lying in the witness box. He added that gunshot residue found on one of Qwabe’s gloves could only mean that he fired the fatal shot. |
| He said Qwabe had got out of the vehicle, gone to the rear of the car and grabbed the victim’s leg and the gunshot went off in the struggle. | He said Qwabe had got out of the vehicle, gone to the rear of the car and grabbed the victim’s leg and the gunshot went off in the struggle. |
| Qwabe’s yellow household gloves were produced before the court and the defence said gunshot residue was found on them. | Qwabe’s yellow household gloves were produced before the court and the defence said gunshot residue was found on them. |
| The witness said this was because the residue may have made contact with the gloves as he was in the car when the shot was fired or when he picked up the bullet casing and disposed of it. | The witness said this was because the residue may have made contact with the gloves as he was in the car when the shot was fired or when he picked up the bullet casing and disposed of it. |
| Shrien Dewani, on the first day of the trial, has admitted to being bisexual and sleeping with male prostitutes including Leopold Liesser, who is known on his website as “the German Master” and who is a forthcoming state witness. | |
| Dewani is accused of organising his wife’s death to cover up his sex life and paying £1,300 to Tongo to help him arrange the murder. | Dewani is accused of organising his wife’s death to cover up his sex life and paying £1,300 to Tongo to help him arrange the murder. |
| Later, Simon Johnson, a Briton and former digital product manager for Gaydar, told the court that Dewani had an annual account with the website for homosexual men which cost him £60 a year. | |
| In his profile, which had the moniker “Asiansubguy”, he listed himself as “gay” in a check box. | |
| On the first day of his trial, Dewani had confirmed to the court that he was bisexual, and had had a string of relationships with men and a male prostitute as well as women. | |
| Johnson, who now works for Thomas Cook, said Gaydar was specifically for homosexual men and there was a separate website for women. | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |