Leila Samodien
Justice Writer
SHRIEN DEWANI has put his version of events in a 37-page document, in which he speaks of his sexuality, his relationship with his bride, Anni Dewani, and a R15 000 arrangement for a private helicopter trip.
This comes almost four years since Anni was killed while the couple were on honeymoon in Cape Town.
Dewani is accused of orchestrating Anni’s murder in what is alleged to have been a simulated hijacking. He has denied any involvement, pleading not guilty to all five charges against him, including murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.
In his plea explanation, Dewani said he had had sexual intercourse with men and women and considered himself bisexual.
“My sexual interactions with males were mostly physical experiences or e-mail chats with people I met online or in clubs; including prostitutes such as Leopold Leisser,” the said in the document, referring to to a German living in the UK who describes himself as an escort.
He also told of his decision to start testosterone replacement therapy, saying he had been informed he had “abnormally low hormone levels” that might lead to his having problems fathering children.
He had met Swedish-born Anni in May 2009 after a mutual friend had given him her contact details.
“On our first date I was instantly physically attracted to her, loved her bubbly personality and sensed that there was a mutual chemistry.”
The relationship became more serious in April 2010, when they started discussing their future together.
He had formally proposed to her during a trip to Paris – for which he had hired a private jet – in June 2010. The couple decided to get married in India.
According to the document, differences of opinion often arose between them when they were organising the wedding. “Things came to a head on (September 21, 2010) when Anni left the hotel we were staying in. She sent me a text to say she could no longer go through with the wedding and wanted to call it off.”
The couple later talked it over.
They agreed that while they frustrated each other at times, they were “in love and wanted a future together”. The wedding took place in Mumbai on the evening of October 29, 2010.
Dewani surprised Anni with a trip to South Africa for their honeymoon.
They first visited a game lodge in the Kruger National Park before heading for Cape Town on November 12, 2010.
Dewani told of having met driver Zola Tongo on their arrival in the city and that he drove them to the Cape Grace Hotel for R250. Tongo is serving 18 years in jail for his role in Anni’s murder. He reached a plea and sentence agreement with the State. He alleged Dewani had been willing to pay R15 000 for a hit.
Dewani set out in his plea explanation how he and Tongo had discussed tours. Dewani expressed interest in a private helicopter flight. Tongo had been able to organise a helicopter for R15 000.
The couple were to meet the pilot so they could sort out details and make payment.
On the night on which they were hijacked, Dewani had taken with him R10 000 to pay a deposit, as well as R4 000 for dinner, taxi fare and anything else the couple wanted to do.
He had not been willing to pay the full amount up front, but to offer a deposit of half the amount, or up to R10 000.
The couple then went for dinner at a restaurant, Surfside in Strand. Dewani said in the plea explanation that when they left the restaurant, they discussed what to do next.
“We did not really have a plan. Tongo suggested things to do and Anni responded. I recall there was some discussion about what Africa is really like.”
Later in the document, Dewani said the next thing he remembered was “banging noises” from the front and right-hand side of the car.
A person with a gun told them to lie down.
“He was waving the gun in the air.
“He shouted, ‘Look down! Lie down!’ We were both terrified and immediately complied with his demands.”
According to Dewani’s version, he and Tongo were let go, but not Anni.
“The last thing I said to Anni, in Gujarati, was to be quiet and not to say anything.”
At a later stage, his brother told him on the phone that Anni had been shot.
“My whole world came crashing down,” he said.
Dewani had later given Tongo R1 000 because he had “felt sorry for him”. Tongo had told him he had no money and no car and therefore no way of earning money.