Cape Town - The father of slain honeymooner Anni Dewani took to the stand in the Western Cape High Court on Monday.
Vinod Hindocha, 63, was called by the State to confirm details about his daughter's marriage and the events that took place after she was killed in Gugulethu on November 13, 2010.
He was testifying in the trial of one of her alleged killers, Xolile Mngeni, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Hindocha said his daughter had married United Kingdom businessman Shrien Dewani in a traditional Hindu marriage in India on October 28, 2010.
He said he travelled from Mariestad, Sweden, to South Africa the day after his daughter was killed. He saw her body in a morgue near the airport and then accompanied the body to the UK.
On December 5, 2010, Captain Paul Hendrikse showed him a watch which had been recovered and he positively identified it as hers. The watch and a bangle were placed before the court as exhibits. Hindocha said he could not positively identify her bangle at an earlier stage, but a cousin had confirmed that it had belonged to Anni.
Qalisile Dayimani, for Mngeni, began his cross examination by offering his condolences to Hindocha. He then warned him he had a list of questions which were relevant to the case. The first was whether Hindocha approved of the marriage.
Before he could answer, Adrian Mopp, for the State, raised an objection, saying the question was not relevant to the case, and that it confirmed his fear that Dayimani may have been solicited by an unknown party to build facts for another case.
Mngeni had said in an affidavit that he was not paying Dayimani's legal fees and this raised a question as to who was paying, and why, Mopp said.
Judge Robert Henney asked the lawyer the relevance of the question.
“The point I'm trying to make stands from the alleged conspiracy.... That a husband had a plan to have his wife killed,” Dayimani replied.
Various witnesses have fingered Shrien as having masterminded the hiring of a hitman to have his wife killed. He has repeatedly denied these allegations, amidst an extradition process to have him stand trial in Cape Town.
Henney said he would allow Dayimani to ask the question, but he should tread carefully.
Hindocha hesitantly gave a response.
“I approved of the marriage, yes. Why should I not?”
Dayimani started to ask his next question, but Henney put a stop to it and allowed Hindocha to leave the stand.
The trial continues. - Sapa