Gay sex 'not a factor' in Dewani case

The state is unlikely to maintain that Shrien Dewani's admitted bisexuality motivated him to murder his new bride.

That is the view of criminal lawyer William Booth.

"His sexuality does not have a lot to do with the case because if you are gay and married that does not mean that you will kill your wife,'' said Booth.

"Character evidence is not normally admissible. The state will rely on the evidence of Zola Tongo and Mzwamadoda Qwabe because they turned state witness."

Tongo and Qwabe claim they colluded with Dewani to kill Anni Dewani. Tongo claims Shrien Dewani was prepared to pay R15000 for the murder.

But in Dewani's plea statement yesterday he said he was prepared to fork out R15000 for a helicopter trip that Tongo would organise. He said he gave Tongo R1000 because he "felt sorry for him".

"Tongo said he did not know how he was going to survive. I felt sorry for him and decided that I would give him the R1000 that I would have paid him for the trip on Saturday night," said Dewani.

Video footage showing Anni's body was shown in court.

Her long hair covered her face and she was wearing sandals.

The bullet wound in her neck was clearly visible.

Her family sobbed softly; Dewani bowed his head.

Forensic pathologist Janette Verster was the first to testify.

Asked by prosecutor Adrian Mopp if Anni had been sexually assaulted, Verster replied: "There were no signs of sexual violation."