Shrien Dewani: who's who in the honeymoon murder trial

Shrien Dewani comes face to face with two South African men convicted of his wife's 2010 murder

Shrien Dewani at murder trial
(Image credit: 2014 Getty Images)

The alleged plot to murder newlywed Anni Dewani has been dissected and probed over the last five weeks in the trial of Shrien Dewani.

The British businessman has come face to face in court with two men convicted of murdering Anni in Cape Town on 13 November 2010.

They both testified that Shrien was the one who came up with the plan and that he offered them money to kill his bride – although he strenuously denies their claims.

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The couple were being driven through Gugulethu, a township near Cape Town, in a taxi when two men hijacked the vehicle. Shrien was released unharmed, but Anni's body was found the next day on the back seat of the abandoned car. She had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to her neck.

These are the key people at the centre of the trial:

Anni Dewani

The bride killed on her honeymoon. Sweden-born Anni Dewani was an engineering graduate and part-time model. She met Dewani while staying in Britain with her cousin and they married in October 2010 in an extravagant Hindu wedding in Mumbai. Less than two weeks later, Anni was shot dead on her honeymoon.

Zola Tongo

The South African driving the taxi on the night of Anni's murder. Zola Tongo initially told police that his car was hijacked by two random men, but later admitted the hijacking was part of a plot to murder Anni. He claims that Shrien offered him money to have his wife killed and says that he contacted the two hitmen to organise the murder. The taxi driver was sentenced to 18 years in prison, a term that was reduced after he agreed to testify against Shrien.

Xolile Mngeni

The man who fired the gun. Xolile Mngeni, also known as Watti, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in November 2012, convicted of hijacking the Dewanis' taxi and firing the shot that killed Anni. Mngeni, who suffered from a rare form of brain cancer, was described in his trial as a "merciless and evil person" who deserved the maximum sentence by the trial judge. Mngeni, who was just 23 at the time of the murder, died in the hospital section of Cape Town prison on 18 October this year.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe

The murderer's accomplice. Mziwamadoda Qwabe, also known as Spra, was also sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the murder. Qwabe testified in Shrien's trial that he and Mngeni had been offered 15,000 rand to kill Anni. He claimed Tongo told him that there was a man who wanted his wife killed.

Shrien Dewani

The accused. Shrien Dewani was running his family care home business in Bristol before he became embroiled in the high-profile murder case. Shrien has acknowledged that he is bisexual and he is alleged to have met with male prostitutes while he was in a relationship with Anni. The court has heard how the British millionaire hired a private jet to propose to Anni in Paris with a £25,000 diamond ring and held a week-long stag party in Las Vegas. He is charged with five counts relating to the murder of his wife: conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.

Monde Mbolombo

Middleman in the murder plot. Monde Mbolombo, a hotel clerk, has admitted putting Tongo in touch with Mngeni and Qwabe before the murder. He received immunity from prosecution in return for his testimony, which also implicated Shrien in the killing.

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