New twist in Dewani case

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2012 file photo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe appears in court in Cape Town, South Africa, on charges of taking part in the shooting death of Swedish tourist Anni Dewani while she was on her honeymoon in November 2010. Qwabe, one of two South African men accused of being hired by British newlywed Shrien Dewani to kill his Swedish bride, pleaded guilty Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012 to his involvement in the slaying, a prosecution spokesman said. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2012 file photo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe appears in court in Cape Town, South Africa, on charges of taking part in the shooting death of Swedish tourist Anni Dewani while she was on her honeymoon in November 2010. Qwabe, one of two South African men accused of being hired by British newlywed Shrien Dewani to kill his Swedish bride, pleaded guilty Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012 to his involvement in the slaying, a prosecution spokesman said. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam, File)

Published Aug 9, 2012

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Ashok Hindocha, Anni Dewani’s uncle, says they still need answers from Shrien Dewani and Xolile Mngeni, who were both in the car with her on the night she was murdered.

Anni was murdered in Cape Town on November 13, 2010, while on honeymoon with her husband.

Dewani, who is alleged to have hired hitmen to kill his wife, is still in England, fighting extradition to SA to stand trial for her murder.

Two South Africans arrested in connection with Anni’s death have confessed to their roles in the killing and fingered Dewani as the mastermind behind the crime.

Hindocha’s call for answers from Dewani and Mngeni follows a surprising twist on Wednesday, when Mziwamadoda Qwabe, one of the accused, pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced to 25 years behind bars.

Hindocha said afterwards: “I would say the case is moving forward, but it has been 21 months of legal torture.

“There were five people in the car (when Anni was murdered). We have not heard from the two others. We need more answers.”

He added that they needed to know why Anni had to give up her life.

Hindocha said he was disappointed with the treatment of Dewani’s health.

“It is strange that after 21 months there has been no progress in his health and there has been no extra effort to seek another doctor.

“We are waiting for answers from all four accused and all the witnesses; only then can we find closure.”

Qwabe pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years for kidnapping, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, 25 years for murder and five years for the illegal possession of a firearm.

The robbery, kidnapping and firearm sentence will run concurrently with the 25-year sentence.

Judge John Hlophe said Qwabe would not be eligible for parole before two-thirds of his 25 years has been served.

In his plea agreement, Qwabe admitted to taking part in the conspiracy and to execute the plan for a fee of R15 000.

He and Mngeni agreed to meet taxi driver Zola Tonga in Gugulethu on the evening of November 13, 2010, and waited for a call from Tongo, when he left the hotel – at the V&A Waterfront where the Dewanis were staying – at about 7.30pm.

Tongo did not call at 7.30pm – only at 8.15pm, saying they were leaving the hotel only then. Qwabe said he received another call from Tongo later to say Dewani wanted the job to be done on the same Saturday.

“When Tongo arrived at the predetermined place, Mngeni and I were in position.”

They approached the car and Mngeni, who had a gun, pointed it at Tongo and ordered them out of the car. Tongo got out and climbed into the passenger seat, Qwabe got into the driver’s seat and Mngeni in the front passenger seat.

His confession corroborates Tongo’s version of events. He, too, claimed that Dewani was the mastermind behind his wife’s murder and hired them to kill her. Tonga is currently serving an 18-year sentence.

Qwabe said that after dropping Dewani, they drove along Mew Way, Khayelitsha.

“While I was driving the vehicle, Mngeni shot and killed [Anni]. He was seated in the front passenger seat at the time he fired the single shot.”

He added that he parked the car at the side of the road, which is when Mngeni started looking for the bullet casing.

Qwabe admitted robbing Anni of her Giorgio Armani wristwatch, white gold and diamond bracelet, a handbag and BlackBerry – all estimated to be worth R90 000.

Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said outside court yesterday that the NPA was satisfied with the case.

“We are very pleased with the outcome, getting us close to getting justice for Anni Dewani and her family.

“Today’s confession provides us with information we didn’t have before. The information we previously had was as far as Tongo getting out of the car. What we heard in the past was only from the police and Tongo, but now we understand who did the shooting.”

Mngeni is expected to appear in court for pre-trial on Monday.

 

 

DEWANI CASE TIMELINE

*November 13, 2010: Anni and Shrien Dewani are “hijacked” in Gugulethu. Shrien is thrown from the vehicle, and the driver drives off with Anni.

*November 14, 2010: Anni's body is found in the abandoned silver VW Sharan in Khayelitsha.

*November 20, 2010: South African police ask Shrien Dewani to return to South Africa to attend an identify parade.

*November 25, 2010. Dewani’s family indicate he fears he will be falsely fingered for the killing if he returns to South Africa. Spin doctor Max Clifford comments at this time that Dewani is heavily sedated and being monitored by doctors.

*December 8, 2010: Dewani hands himself in to UK police after South Africa’s Hawks lodged a request for his extradition.

*December 9, 2010: Dewani indicates he does not consent to being extradited to South Africa.

*January 20, 2011:Dewani fails to attend a pre-extradition hearing at the Westminster magistrates Court. The court is told he has been diagnosed by a psychiatrist as suffering from acute stress and depressive adjustment disorder.

*February 20, 2011: Dewani is taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary by ambulance, apparently after taking an overdose of 46 sleeping pills and other prescription medication. Dewani’s counsel denies it was a suicide attempt. The presiding judge orders a second opinion of Dewani’s mental health.

*April 10, 2011: Dewani becomes involved an altercation with a fellow outpatient, by his account as a result of adverse reaction to medication. The judge rules ehe should be detained at the Cygnet Health Care facility in Kewstoke, Somerset.

*April 14, 2011: After a series of delays on medical grounds, Dewani’s bail is extended on condition he remain in medical care.

*July 18, 2011: The extraditin hearing starts, but Dewani is excused after the presiding judge accepts he is too ill to attend. The court is told dewani has said he will kill himself if extradited.

*September 26, 2011: Home Secretary Theresa may signs an order for Dewani’s extraditon to South Africa. Dewani appeals on the grounds of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

*March 30, 2012:High Court judge john Thomas rules it would be unjust to send Dewani to south Africa “in his present condition”

*July 31, 2012: Dewani’s lawyer Clare Montgomery tells the court her client’s recovery would be speeded up by being kept under medical treatement in the UK for 12 months. Dewani is under a medical order which keeps him in hospital under treatment until may 2013.

The court orders that a South African psychiatrist examine Dewani to make an independent assessment of his medical condition. The matter is postponed to September 18. - Cape Argus

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