'Fifth person' mystery at Dewani trial

UK murder accused Shrien Dewani is adamant that there is another person behind his wife Anni's killing who has yet to be brought to book.

Dewani's advocate, Francois van Zyl, SC, hinted in the Cape Town High Court yesterday that state witnesses Monde Mbolombo and shuttle operator Zola Tongo had concealed the extent of this person's involvement.

Van Zyl said they seemed to "protect this person".

He confronted Mbolombo about a recording of a phone conversation he had with Tongo where they arranged the killing. Mbolombo is heard saying: "There is five of us, remember."

Dewani is on trial for allegedly orchestrating Anni's murder with Tongo. He has pleaded not guilty.

Tongo said Dewani asked him to find hit men to kill Anni during their honeymoon in Cape Town in 2010.

He said Mbolombo put him in touch with Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni, who committed the murder during a staged hijacking. Anni was found dead in the back of Tongo's car in Khayelitsha on November 14 2010.

Yesterday, Mbolombo failed to explain who the fifth person was.

"I have been thinking about this, I don't know why I was saying this," said Mbolombo. "As I said, My Lady, I can't remember what I was referring to."

But Van Zyl was not swayed. He implied that the fifth person also stood to benefit from the crime.

"The question is who was the fifth person who has not been named? Who is being protected?"

The trial continues.