Mngeni did not meet witness: lawyer

Xolile Wellington Mngeni accused number one accused in the Annie Dewani murder case made a brief appearance in the Cape High Court with co accused number 2. Pic noor Slamdien story Shellee Geduldt

Xolile Wellington Mngeni accused number one accused in the Annie Dewani murder case made a brief appearance in the Cape High Court with co accused number 2. Pic noor Slamdien story Shellee Geduldt

Published Sep 4, 2012

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Cape Town - A man accused of killing honeymooner Anni Dewani will deny ever meeting a State witness the day after she was killed, the Western Cape High Court heard on Tuesday.

“My instructions are that you met (with Xolile Mngeni only) late on Monday and you were a passenger in a white VW golf,” defence lawyer Qalisile Dayimani put it to the witness.

The witness, who is a good friend of Mngeni and cannot be identified, said it was true he met the accused on Monday (November 15, 2010) but he also met him the day before.

Anni Dewani was killed in Gugulethu on November 13, 2010, in an apparent hijacking while on honeymoon with her husband Shrien.

Mngeni has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The witness earlier testified that he saw Mngeni the day after Dewani was killed, with a digital camera, two phones and two watches.

Dayimani said his client would deny having a Prada watch or camera with him that day.

The witness said he definitely saw the accused with a camera and the watch. Another man could testify that he had also seen the watch, he said.

Mngeni's friend told the court on Monday he had seen the accused on November 13, 2010, with two other men in a silver VW Sharan in Sidima Crescent, Khayelitsha.

He said he had seen Mngeni with a gun after leaving the vehicle.

He saw him take a gun out of a plastic bag, look at it, put it back and wrap the bag up again.

Dayimani denied this version of events.

“Mngeni will deny that he was inside the 1/8silver VW Sharan 3/8 vehicle on Saturday, November 13th, 2010,” the lawyer said.

“He will deny he had a firearm at the time you said he had.”

Dayimani said that convicted killer Mziwamadoda Qwabe testified from the stand that he had kept his firearm at home while meeting Mngeni and shuttle driver Zola Tongo that Saturday.

Qwabe's testimony indicated it would have been impossible for the witness to have seen Mngeni with the gun when it was not there.

The witness replied: “No. I'm not making this up.”

The State's next witness would be called after lunch. - Sapa

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