Method of killing Anni never discussed

221110 Free image from Facebook. - Murder victim Anni Dewani, 28, who was attacked and killed whilst on holiday in South Africa with her Millionaire husband Shrien Dewani, 30, with his wife of two weeks Anni, 28. Anni was murdered on saturday night when the taxi they were travelling in was hijacked in Capetown, South Africa.

221110 Free image from Facebook. - Murder victim Anni Dewani, 28, who was attacked and killed whilst on holiday in South Africa with her Millionaire husband Shrien Dewani, 30, with his wife of two weeks Anni, 28. Anni was murdered on saturday night when the taxi they were travelling in was hijacked in Capetown, South Africa.

Published Aug 29, 2012

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Cape Town - Anni Dewani's killers never discussed how she would be murdered, the Western Cape High Court heard on Wednesday.

Convicted killer Mziwamadoda Qwabe testified that a discussion between himself, shuttle driver Zola Tongo and the man on trial, Xolile Mngeni, only involved a set-up for a faked hijacking in Gugulethu on November 13, 2010.

“Zola told us the husband wants his wife to be killed, but we did not plan exactly as to how she would be killed. It would look like a hijacking,” he said.

Tongo told them the route he would be taking, and that both Anni and her husband Shrien would be in the back.

Qwabe said Tongo told them no one else was to be harmed, although it was not specifically discussed what they would do with the husband.

Various State witnesses had alleged that Shrien masterminded a plan to have his wife killed while on their Cape Town honeymoon. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Qwabe revealed earlier in the week that the hijackers ordered Shrien out of the vehicle and told him to run to nearby houses, before the van drove off again with his wife still in the back.

Qwabe testified that both he and Mngeni had known his firearm would be used as the murder weapon.

Qalisile Dayimani, for Mngeni, asked whether they had discussed the firearm after the meeting, on the Saturday she was killed.

Qwabe said that although he could not remember exactly, there must have been such a discussion.

Dayimani said Qwabe's testimony contradicted a statement given by Tongo, as part of a plea agreement in which he was jailed for 18 years.

The lawyer said that in this plea document, Tongo said that although he was not present, he understood Dewani was shot as the men had planned.

Qwabe said he had testified what he could remember.

“This is what I recall from the conversation. Maybe I left some things out, but that is what we discussed,” he said.

The trial on Wednesday was beset by a number of delays. A lengthy adjournment had to be taken to repair Qwabe's faulty portable microphone.

A while later, Judge Robert Henney called for an early lunch break to find a new courtroom.

He said the present courtroom had poor acoustics and Dayimani continued to speak softly, despite being told not to.

The trial would continue after lunch. - Sapa

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