This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-30169797
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Shrien Dewani trial: Judge hears dismissal application | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A judge is being asked to throw out the case against UK businessman Shrien Dewani, who denies conspiring to murder his wife in South Africa. | |
Swedish national Anni Dewani, was shot dead during the couple's honeymoon in Cape Town in 2010. | |
Mr Dewani's defence claims a key prosecution witness is "unreliable". | |
Taxi driver Zola Tongo, who is serving 18 years for Mrs Dewani's murder, has told the court he was paid by Mr Dewani to organise the murder. | |
Defence lawyer Francois van Zyl told the Cape Town court the state's case rested on Tongo's evidence. | |
Western Cape High Court judge Jeanette Traverso is hearing the arguments for dismissal, although her decision is not expected until later in the week. | |
The prosecution alleges Mr Dewani paid Tongo 15,000 rand (£1,000 at 2010 exchange rates) to organise his wife's death. | |
She was killed during an apparent carjacking. | |
Mr Dewani maintains the money was for a surprise helicopter trip. | |
"The state's whole case was based on a conspiracy. Tongo is the pillar on which this case rests and if that pillar falls then the whole case collapses," said Mr van Zyl. | |
"Tongo proved to be a completely unreliable witness." | |
'No evidence' | |
Mr van Zyl also told the court Tongo had been hired by the Dewanis on their arrival in South Africa. | |
"At the hotel, Anni walks in with the porter and luggage. Shrien Dewani stays behind to pay him behind car. We cannot see, but they do not stay there very long." | |
Mr van Zyl said Mr Dewani came back to the car to talk to Tongo. | |
"You have to ask yourself how probable is that within half an hour he asks him to find a hitman," he said. | |
"Yes, there was a conspiracy. Yes, there was a hijack. Yes, Anni was shot. But there is no evidence Shrien Dewani was involved." | |
Two other men were also jailed following the murder. Xolile Mngeni was sentenced to life in prison and died in jail. Another man, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, was sentenced to 25 years. |