Accused wore yellow kitchen gloves

inlsa

CAREFUL: Mziwamadoda Qwabe said he didnt want to leave fingerprints during the hijacking of Dewani couple.

Caryn Dolley

MZIWAMADODA QWABE wore yellow rubber kitchen gloves, he used when doing chores around his home, when he helped “hijack” and murder Anni Dewani.

This emerged in the Western Cape High Court yesterday when Qwabe, who this month confessed to his role in her killing, was cross-examined.

He started testifying in the trial of Xolile Mngeni, fingered as the triggerman in the case, on Monday.

Yesterday, while being cross-examined by Mngeni’s legal representative, Matthews Dayimani, Qwabe said he had worn yellow rubber kitchen gloves on the night of November 13, 2010 while “hijacking” the vehicle Anni and her husband Shrien Dewani were in.

Asked by Dayimani where he had got the gloves from, he replied: “The gloves were in my house… I did not buy it. I used it when cleaning the house, for the dishes.”

Qwabe said he wore the gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints. Mngeni had not worn gloves.

After Mngeni shot Anni, they walked from the scene and he threw his gloves aside.

Dayimani put it to Qwabe that he had perhaps worn the gloves to prevent gun powder residue from getting on to his hands, but Qwabe denied this.

After his arrest, Qwabe had pointed out the gloves to police.

On Monday, Qwabe testified that the evening before Anni’s murder, Zola Tongo, who in 2010 pleaded guilty to his role in her killing, called him while Qwabe was with Mngeni.

During the phone conversation with Tongo, who said he knew a husband who wanted his wife killed, Mngeni suggested they be paid R15 000 for killing Anni.

However, Dayimani pointed out yesterday that in a confession Qwabe made to police shortly after his arrest, he did not mention Mngeni’s name when talking about the call.

A firearm, the deputy director of public prosecutions Adrian Mopp said was used to kill Anni, four rounds of ammunition, a silver bracelet and a silver watch – submitted as evidence on Monday – were placed on a table in front of the courtroom

.

During an adjournment yesterday, Anni’s father, Vinod Hindocha, who lives in Sweden, and her cousin, Nishma Hindocha, walked up to the table and looked at the items.

After the proceedings, Nishma Hindocha said: “ This is a difficult time for us… ”

The trial continues today.

caryn.dolley@inl.co.za