Cape Town - UK sadomasochism escort Leopold Leisser, who is known as The German Master, was offered £30 000 to give his story about his liaisons with honeymoon murder accused Shrien Dewani to The Sun - a tabloid newspaper in London.
This emerged in the Western Cape High Court on Monday morning when Sun journalist Nick Parker testified in Dewani's trial, in which he stands accused of orchestrating his wife's murder.
Dewani's advocate, Francois van Zyl SC, was cross-examining Parker on Monday morning after he testified about stories he had written in connection with the November 2010 murder of Dewani's wife, Anni Hindocha.
He put it to Parker that, in the end, Leisser was paid less than what he had been offered because the story did not live up to their expectations.
Parker was the first journalist to interview Dewani after the murder.
The interview took place at the offices of Max Clifford, who was Dewani's publicist, on November 26, 2010 - just two weeks after Anni was killed.
Dewani's brother Preyen was present during the 80-minute interview, which Parker recorded and had transcribed, the court heard.
The court was also told that Leisser's agent had approached The Sun about doing a story.
Once The Sun agreed to report on the issue, the allegations were put to Dewani, via Clifford.
Later, Parker received correspondence from solicitors acting on Dewani's behalf in which Dewani tried to stop the story from being published.
Dewani denied ever meeting Leisser or providing his mobile number to him.
At the start of his trial, however, he said he was bisexual and admitted interaction with men, including Leisser.
Dewani has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, robbery with aggravating circumstances and obstructing the administration of justice.
IOL