Timeline of gun used to kill Anni

Cape Town 120827. The gun that shot Anni Dewani used as evidence in the trial Photo by Michael Walker

Cape Town 120827. The gun that shot Anni Dewani used as evidence in the trial Photo by Michael Walker

Published Sep 3, 2012

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Mziwamadoda Qwabe, who pleaded guilty last month to his role in killing Anni Dewani, has testified that this was the sequence of events involving the firearm used to murder the newlywed:

* About October 2010– Qwabe buys a firearm illegally in Khayelitsha. He tests to see if it is working. It is.

* During the next few weeks– On a number of occasions, Qwabe lends the firearm to Xolile Mngeni, now on trial in the Western Cape High Court on charges of kidnapping, robbing and murdering Anni.

* November 13, 2010– Qwabe gets the firearm from his house in Khayelitsha, where it is being stored, and during the course of the evening he hands it to Mngeni.

Mngeni later uses it when he stops the vehicle Anni and Shrien Dewani are being driven around in, in Gugulethu. When only Mngeni, Qwabe and Anni are in the vehicle, Mngeni shoots Anni in Khayelitsha.

* November 14, 2010– Mngeni returns the firearm to Qwabe.

* November 15, 2010– Qwabe takes the firearm to a friend who keeps it.

* After November 18 , 2010– After his arrest, Qwabe takes police to his friend’s house and points out the firearm.

* August 27, 2012– The firearm, now an exhibit in Mngeni’s trial, is placed on a table in front of the Western Cape High Court.

Qwabe says it looks like his firearm, but he cannot be sure as his weapon did not have any marks that would enable him to identify it easily.

Last week, during proceedings, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Adrian Mopp, said the firearm in front of the court was indeed the weapon that had been used to murder Anni.

While cross-examining Qwabe, Mngeni’s legal representative, Matthews Dayimani, said Mngeni would deny having been present when Anni was murdered.

Dayimani also pointed out that because of an injury to it, Mngeni was unable to use his left hand properly.

During cross-examination, Qwabe said he believed that both hands were needed to prepare a firearm before firing it.

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