South Africa - Anni Dewani, 28, shot to death, Gugulethu, 13 Nov 2010 #4

[PrimeSuspect]

I didn't think the defence made much headway with Capt. Lutchman, we do know that he and Anni's father are diabetics.

Oh one thing, Lutchman didn't find it strange that Tongo opened his door for the hijackers. So it must be just me then.

 

[newone]

Are these questions from the Judge showing any bias?

I didn't answer properly -- am wondering if LE thought that the Dewani couple were targeted which changed it from a ''simple'' carjacking making it planned from unplanned kind of event.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

they have a lot of breaks -- makes me wonder if m'lady is a smoker LOL

I wouldn't be surprised, got to calm the nerves somehow.

 

[newone]

vanessa poonah ‏@vanessapoonah01 #SABCNews 7m7 minutes ago

MM: evidence I did not give was to disclose my involvement.

(State) Riley: when police approached you to be a witness, did they explain this is terms of Section 204?

MM: they explained fully, I understood.

Riley: Did you tell the truth in that statement?

MM: Even then I did not speak the truth about my involvement

Riley: in Mngeni trial you were indemnified on conspiracy to commit murder and illegal possession of ammunition?

MM: correct. I was truthful, but not all evidence regarding my involvement. Also lied when testifying

Riley: how did your statement of September this year come about?

MM: I ran out of ideas that there is no more hiding. I have to be open and honest. Volunteered to make statement.

hmmmm.....wonder if that will create a retrial situation for the two others or reduce their sentences in any way?

 

[Estelle]

1252
MM says he has seen footage shown by prosecutors.
State says footage relates to work at Protea Hotel.
MM agrees.
1253
SR asks: What about the footage made you tell the truth?

MM: Footage and movements in hotel.
1254
SR: Why didn't you give the State and police your full cooperation before?

MM: I was scared I'd be arrested and sent to jail.
1254

Court adjourns for lunch.

So this will be very interesting. MM is supposed to be the State's most important witness.

 

[newone]

I didn't think the defence made much headway with Capt. Lutchman, we do know that he and Anni's father are diabetics.

Oh one thing, Lutchman didn't find it strange that Tongo opened his door for the hijackers. So it must be just me then.

Punching the gas would be normal first reaction but if you couldn't do that I guess giving up the car in exchange for your life is ''reasonable'' if there's a gun pointed at you:scared:

 

[PrimeSuspect]

hmmmm.....wonder if that will create a retrial situation for the two others or reduce their sentences in any way?

yes, his testimony today could change everything.

One journo said SD's brother and mother smiled when Mondo approached the bench, not at him, probably confident he will be a bad witness. No comments about Dewani and his mutterings and face pulling, which is a good thing.

 

[Britlaws]

We'll wait and see what he has to say but there's Tongo convicted of an offence related to lying to the police and his testimony in this trial differs from what he said originally. Now Mbolombo, who was given immunity from prosecution for testifying against Mngeni admits in this trial that he lied during the trial of Mngeni. Is the judge supposed to believe these guys now?

They should have put more effort into the original investigation, rather than rush into these plea bargains. The whole purpose for the state securing them is likely to be thwarted if there is nothing else up the state's sleeve.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

We'll wait and see what he has to say but there's Tongo convicted of an offence related to lying to the police and his testimony in this trial differs from what he said originally. Now Mbolombo, who was given immunity from prosecution for testifying against Mngeni admits in this trial that he lied during the trial of Mngeni. Is the judge supposed to believe these guys now?

They should have put more effort into the original investigation, rather than rush into these plea bargains. The whole purpose for the state securing them is likely to be thwarted if there is nothing else up the state's sleeve.

I agree. They're pretty bad men and lying is a way of life.

Qwabe and Tongo make a strong point that Monde had a small involvement, now Mondo is hinting he lied about his lack of involvement and will now set the record straight. Monde probably will end up with a jail term, he must have known it was coming. :dunno:

 

[KING Charles]

SD says in his statement, he is well traveled, the places he mentioned were India, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Egypt, he excluded other countries we know he visited South Africa and France, so there may be more.

My point is SD has lots of experience of traveling, he could not have been this trusting in all those countries and escaped with his life, so why compromise his and Anni's safety by heading off into the dark night with a stranger?

The Dewanis' traveled first class from the U.K to Johannesburg but SD hires an unlicensed driver (Tongo) to save a few dollars? :thinking:

Not forgetting according to Dewani a helicopter ride for Anni, trying to arrange it cheaply with Tongo when a professional tour service would have done it for similar price and be covered for insurance.

 

[newone]

I doubt this is the 'first rodeo' for any of these people -- it may well surface they have done this before.

 

[Estelle]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/anni-dewani-murder-suspect-tells-173461

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Not forgetting according to Dewani a helicopter ride for Anni, trying to arrange it cheaply with Tongo when a professional tour service would have done it for similar price and be covered for insurance.

Yes, so true.

Going through Dewani's statement, the second one taken on 3rd October, 2014, where he talks about the helicopter trip and payment arrangements, he's even more specific about it.

Dewani says he was supposed to meet up with the pilot on the Saturday night. When did he imagine this was going to happen? By 10pm they're all going sightseeing on the way to Gugs. Would he normally meet up with pilots in a strange country around or after midnight?! He wanted the surprise for Anni the next day!

In this statement he says Tongo texts him in the vehicle on their journey about the money (Dewani says he thought it was about the helicopter flight money) and he replied back that 'he had it'!

This is Dewani's statement -

http://www.pod702.co.za/Eyewitnessnews/docs/141006Dewaniexp.pdf

 

[Estelle]

http://www.nacmakana.com/scenic-fli..._SIY3XV9NCDAeoetA0A6ef6NN0LKlB8vjYaAuKC8P8HAQ

Helicopter flights in Cape Town.

 

[Britlaws]

I agree. They're pretty bad men and lying is a way of life.

Qwabe and Tongo make a strong point that Monde had a small involvement, now Mondo is hinting he lied about his lack of involvement and will now set the record straight. Monde probably will end up with a jail term, he must have known it was coming. :dunno:

Yes he will but the state had to wait until now to do anything with him. From the tapes it is obvious he lied before. However, had they prosecuted him before for breaching his bargain, they wouldnt have got him to testify now, or if he did, he'd have got no credit for it with regards his sentencing. He's known he's going down for some time IMO, but he want's credit for testifying here reflected in his sentence.

 

[newone]

http://www.nacmakana.com/scenic-fli..._SIY3XV9NCDAeoetA0A6ef6NN0LKlB8vjYaAuKC8P8HAQ

Helicopter flights in Cape Town.

wow pretty reasonable!! -- he could have easily booked it online silly man......and still kept it a secret to surprise his wife MOO

 

[patCee]

wow pretty reasonable!! -- he could have easily booked it online silly man......and still kept it a secret to surprise his wife MOO

...and he would have done if it had been open and above board. He seems to spend enough time on his computer. Nothing silly about him, devious character. JMO

 

[Estelle]

A few days ago it appeared that this case could have been thrown out of court and there were rumblings that Dewani would be returning to the UK. I noted that many on here were thinking that there was not enough evidence to prove Dewani's guilt. I am now wondering whether any of you have had a change of heart since? I have always thought he was guilty but wondered whether they had enough evidence to prove it.

 

[KING Charles]

Yes, so true.

Going through Dewani's statement, the second one taken on 3rd October, 2014, where he talks about the helicopter trip and payment arrangements, he's even more specific about it.

Dewani says he was supposed to meet up with the pilot on the Saturday night. When did he imagine this was going to happen? By 10pm they're all going sightseeing on the way to Gugs. Would he normally meet up with pilots in a strange country around or after midnight?! He wanted the surprise for Anni the next day!

In this statement he says Tongo texts him in the vehicle on their journey about the money (Dewani says he thought it was about the helicopter flight money) and he replied back that 'he had it'!

This is Dewani's statement -

http://www.pod702.co.za/Eyewitnessnews/docs/141006Dewaniexp.pdf

I had read Tongo's statement earlier and thought at the time that Dewani was definitely guilty. Then I read Dewani's statement directly afterwards and thought he had covered his tracks very well with this so called helicopter ride. Each guy as the R15,000 covered.

 

[patCee]

A few days ago it appeared that this case could have been thrown out of court and there were rumblings that Dewani would be returning to the UK. I noted that many on here were thinking that there was not enough evidence to prove Dewani's guilt. I am now wondering whether any of you have had a change of heart since? I have always thought he was guilty but wondered whether they had enough evidence to prove it.

Agreed, but we're now waiting for the crucial witness evidence. Much will depend upon his evidence as to whether it was a common robbery, or conspiracy and murder...but will MM confess to murder, difficult one for him I think. If he goes with common robbery (in SA), he'll get his reduced sentence. He's a lot to lose.