Mngeni befuddled by SIM card in Dewani shooting

24 October 2012 - 16:14 By Sapa
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Xolile Mngeni in the dock at the Cape Town High Court yesterday at the beginning of his trial for the 2010 murder of honeymoon bride Anni Dewani Picture: HALDEN KROG
Xolile Mngeni in the dock at the Cape Town High Court yesterday at the beginning of his trial for the 2010 murder of honeymoon bride Anni Dewani Picture: HALDEN KROG

It was a mystery how a SIM card found its way into the phone of one of the killers of tourist Anni Dewani killers, the Western Cape High Court heard on Wednesday.

The State asked Xolile Mngeni, 25, whether he inserted a SIM card into a Nokia E90 phone at 8.47pm on November 14, 2010 and he replied that he had not.

When asked who was responsible, he said he did not know and that the cellphone number did not belong to him.

The State said airtime had been loaded onto this number and calls were made to and received by Mziwamadoda Qwabe, an alleged accomplice already behind bars.

"That also beats me but that's not my number," Mngeni replied.

He has pleaded not guilty to hijacking, robbing and killing Dewani in Gugulethu on November 13, 2010.

She and her husband Shrien were being shuttled around by driver Zola Tongo at the time. He was later jailed for being an accomplice in the murder.

Tongo was robbed of his Nokia E90 phone that night.

Mngeni previously testified that, the day after the murder, Qwabe gave him the Nokia and a BlackBerry so he could find buyers for them.

The court heard that six outgoing calls and seven incoming calls were recorded on the SIM card while it was in the Nokia.

The trial continues.

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