Dewani witness quizzed over gloves

AP

In this February 10, 2012 file photo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe appears in court.

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Cape Town - A convicted killer of honeymooner Anni Dewani was questioned in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday about the yellow rubber gloves he wore the night of the murder.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe, testifying in the trial of alleged gunman Xolile Mngeni, said he wore the dish-washing gloves on the evening of November 13, 2010, to avoid leaving fingerprints.

Qalisile Dayimani, for Mngeni, asked if this meant the authorities already had his prints from previous crimes committed.

At this point, Judge Robert Henney asked the lawyer if he was willing to “open this door” to the prosecution.

Dayimani said he would continue with the question.

Qwabe replied by saying: “All I know is that individuals are identified by their fingerprints.”

The lawyer then asked where he had obtained the gloves and if his accomplices had also been wearing gloves.

Qwabe said he had previously used the gloves for house-cleaning. He took the gloves with him when he first went to Gugulethu that night to hijack, rob and kill Anni Dewani.

When there was a delay, he returned home, put the gloves down and then put them back on when the message came through to drive to Gugulethu again.

He had asked Mngeni whether he also had a set of gloves. Mngeni had replied no and Qwabe “had left it at that”.

Mngeni was eventually linked to the crime because of fingerprints found on the murder vehicle.

Dayimani asked why Qwabe had discarded the gloves somewhere near the vehicle that evening.

“I was not going to need them anymore,” Qwabe replied.

The trial continues. - Sapa