Parliamentary aide to testify that he had sex with Shrien Dewani in trial
During the trial of Shrien Dewani, a British parliamentary aide who claimed to have had sex with the suspect is expected to give evidence as a prosecution witness.
Care home owner Dewani was in 2011 extradited from the UK to face trial for conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice. Prior to that, he was treated in hospital for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
He oh Monday appeared for the first time at Western Cape High Court, as reporters described a passionate opening statement by the defence, and admitted having had sex with men for the first time, saying he identified as bisexual.
The trial is expected to last two months.
The unnamed parliamentary advisor, allegedly met up with Dewani at the Hoist gay club in London’s Vauxhall, and said he had sex with him on various occasions.
According to the Daily Mail, the man is expected to appear in court as a prosecution witness next week.
On Wednesday, one of two men already convicted of killing Anni Dewani told the court that he was hired by Shrien Dewani.
The court on Monday heard Dewani’s account of the events leading up to his wife’s death. He said they were held at gunpoint by two men who made taxi driver Zola Tongo get out of the car. He said he was then forced to climb out of the car window, and the men sped off with his wife, before she was found dead a day later.
Leopold Leisser,a German male prostitute who is based in the UK, has also alleged that Dewani paid him for sex on several occasions, and in previous testimony said Dewani told him he “needed to find a way out” of the marriage.
Dewani has always denied paying three men to kill Anni following their £200,000 Mumbai wedding. Prosecutors argue that he conspired with Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni, in a plan to murder Mrs Dewani.
The three are already serving jail terms in connection with the murder.
Tongo was originally sentenced to 18 years in jail for his part in the death. His sentence was reduced from 25 years after he implicated the British businessman in the killing.
Jeanette Traverso, a senior judge will be responsible for Dewani’s sentencing. There is no jury system in South Africa. Dewani told judge Traverso: “I plead not guilty to all five counts, my lady.”
