Cape Town -
One of Anni Dewani's killers may have dumped his yellow rubber gloves because he fired the fatal gunshot, the Western Cape High Court heard on Tuesday.
Lawyer Qalisile Dayimani suggested if this were true, it would vindicate his client on trial, Xolile Mngeni, of allegations that he had been the hitman.
Mziwamadoda Qwabe, serving 25 years in jail for his role in the murder, and who was on the stand, repeatedly denied the allegation.
He said he had driven the silver VW Sharan in which Dewani was killed, and Mngeni had held the firearm.
“I did not shoot. I did not use the gun. I did not have a gun at the time of the hijacking,” he testified.
He said he wore the gloves, normally used for house cleaning, on the evening of November 13, 2010, to avoid leaving fingerprints.
The gloves were on his hands during the kidnapping, robbery and murder of the honeymooner during an apparent car hijacking in Gugulethu, Cape Town, that night.
Dayimani said maybe Qwabe discarded the gloves afterwards because he was scared of gunpowder residue. Qwabe admitted to knowing about how gunpowder residue could accumulate on hands and clothes after firing a gun.
Dayimani asked him how he knew about gunpowder residue.
“I heard it. They also say it on TV. I read about it,” the witness answered.
After questioning, it was revealed that he used to own a legal firearm. He shot and injured a person with the gun and an attempted murder case was opened.
“I think the investigation was not complete, something like that... The case did not go to trial... it was withdrawn,” Qwabe said.
Anni's father, Vinod Hindocha, and her cousin Nishma, have sat in on the trial since Tuesday. The two were visibly upset when Mngeni was led back to the holding cells, turning their backs so as not to look at him.
Cross-examination of Qwabe would resume on Wednesday. - Sapa