NOT GUILTY South Africa - Anni Dewani, 28, shot to death, Gugulethu, 13 Nov 2010 #5

[newone]

explanation of using shopkeeper to exchange money was to avoid tax (((that's what I was thinking -- he simply didn't want to pay the ''surcharge'' /exchange fees that banks charge))).....during testimony it came up that SD had ''tax problems'' --- to me this could be a lost in translation moment....."I have a problem paying taxes'' ((a way of saying I don't like paying unnecessary taxes if at all possible)) JMO

 

[zwiebel]

T: Mr M testified he knew the couple were married and Tongo wld drive them to a restaurant in Somerset West. He would caall Tongo, but when he did, T's phone was switched off...When M heard 15k was going to be paid, he indicated he would also require paying for all his effort, even if it was only 5k.

She's going thru all the glove stuff now. So sad. Hitmen who can't even buy own gloves...

 

[JudgeJudi]

David Dadic @DavidDadic · 5m 5 minutes ago
Apparently this (garbled) mess is even too big for Adrian to mop.

Mandy Wiener @MandyWiener · 7m 7 minutes ago
Legal experts are saying same principle applies to appealing 174 discharge as appeal in OP case - state can appeal on LAW not on FACT

 

[zwiebel]

Judge still just reciting M's evidence. Not giving any opinion on what she thought of it yet.

 

[zwiebel]

Poor prosecutor Mopp. He has such a pun-friendly name.

 

[zwiebel]

T: At the beginning of his evidence, Mr M admitted he had lied in his statement...shortly before this trial, Mr M made another statement, correcting lies in previous statement. He realized he 'could no longer lie'....He made a pre-prepared speech which seemed very similar to one previously where he then proceeded to lie outright

 

[JudgeJudi]

Leigh-Anne Jansen @LA_JANSEN · 14m 14 minutes ago
#DewaniTrial Traverso now goes through Mbolombo's evidence. He was a witness under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act

Leigh-Anne Jansen @LA_JANSEN · 44s 44 seconds ago
#DewaniTrial Traverso "Mr. Mbolombo is a self-confessed liar"

Leigh-Anne Jansen @LA_JANSEN · 24s 24 seconds ago
#DewaniTrial Traverso" There are stark contradictions in the evidence of Mr. Tongo, Mr. Mbolombo and Mr. Qwabe on material aspects

 

[zwiebel]

Judge has outright called Mr M a liar and he also completely made up calls between him and Tongo. She 'cannot agree' with Mopp's opinion on his evidence.

 

[zwiebel]

T: In my view, evidence of these witnesses so inconsistent, I can safely ignore it...These are intelligent people..

Goes on to list education of Tongo, Mbolombo etc.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Leigh-Anne Jansen @LA_JANSEN · 12s 13 seconds ago
#DewaniTrial Traverso:"All 3 witnesses were intelligent & more than capable of twisting their versions to implicate the accused

Leigh-Anne Jansen @LA_JANSEN · 32s 33 seconds ago
#DewaniTrial Traverso" Each one of them impressed me as bright, but at the same time calculated

 

[zwiebel]

T: These men are not typical of criminal element this court sees....I do not believe any of them would participate in this crime for a few thousand rand...Inference is clear they thought there would be much more in it for them.

 

[zwiebel]

T: Mr Mopp said this 'would be comical' but these are intelligent men.

She just refused immunity! Was that for Mblolombo?

 

[JudgeJudi]

Leigh-Anne Jansen @LA_JANSEN · 44s 45 seconds ago
#DewaniTrial Traverso: "They may have been amateurs but I don't think they would be so stupid to commit crimes for a few thousand Rand."

Leigh-Anne Jansen @LA_JANSEN · 39s 40 seconds ago
#DewaniTrial NB!!! Traverso refuses to grant Monde Mbolombo indemnity.

 

[zwiebel]

T: I have heard the plight of Hindocha family...but I have taken oath to uphold law...that I cannot do if I allow public opinion to influence me. It wld lead to anarchy...there is no evidence...the law is clear...

 

[zwiebel]

T; State case weak, cannot pass legal muster....having regard to fact I already found there is no evidence to convict, then inference is only hope is witness will self-convict in evidence

 

[JudgeJudi]

Leigh-Anne Jansen @LA_JANSEN · 2m 2 minutes ago
#DewaniTrial "I realise there's strong public opinion that the accused should be placed in the box. I've heard the plight of the Hindochas

Leigh-Anne Jansen @LA_JANSEN · 1m 1 minute ago
#DewaniTrial Traverso: "There is no evidence on which a reasonable court can convict the accused"

Leigh-Anne Jansen @LA_JANSEN · 2m 2 minutes ago
#DewaniTrial Traverso: "The evidence of the accused cannot strengthen the State's case."

 

[JudgeJudi]

Leigh-Anne Jansen @LA_JANSEN · 11s 11 seconds ago
#DewaniTrial Traverso: "Application granted. The accused is found not guilty"

 

[zwiebel]

She has just explained why she must dismiss, basically. Because Dewani couuld only be convicted now if he was to incriminate himself on stand, and that's not allowed in SA law.

T: In my view, evidence in this case falls far below threshold...

Dismissed. Dewani not guilty.

 

[zwiebel]

Court adjourned. Dewani is free to grab his pre-packed case and return to England.

 

[newone]

boy did he ever move fast -- like a rabbit he was down those stairs so fast