'Treated like a long-lost son'

15 December 2014 - 02:01 By Tanya Farber, Marvin Meintjies and Loni Prinsloo
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STREETWALKER: Leopold Leisser shopping in Cape Town after giving evidence in the trial of Shrien Dewani
STREETWALKER: Leopold Leisser shopping in Cape Town after giving evidence in the trial of Shrien Dewani
Image: MIKE BEHR/NOBLE/DRAPER

Male prostitute Leopold Leisser, who became a central figure in the Shrien Dewani trial, has spoken out about the warm reception he was given by murder victim Anni Dewani's family in Cape Town during the trial.

Leissermet Anni's parents, Vinam and Nilam Hindocha, in Cape Town to give them information about his association with Dewani, according to the UK's Daily Mail.

Leisser, known as "the German Master", said he was "treated like a long-lost son" by the Hindochas.

He told the Sunday Mirror he was "apprehensive to meet them" because of his work as a male prostitute and because of the history behind his meeting with Dewani.

"I thought they would see me as a dirty, disgusting man. But ... they were so grateful I had come forward," he reportedly said, adding that meeting them felt "surreal".

When Anni's uncle, Ashok Hindocha, made a statement last week after the case was dismissed the Hindochas noted their antipathy for Dewani's lifestyle but made no reference to Leisser.

"We know now that he was having gay sex . and declared himself bisexual on the first day of his trial," Hindocha said.

"[Anni] gave herself to him, mind, body and soul and she hoped to have been cherished and loved.

"She would not have married him if she had known about his secret sex life ... Neither would we have, as a family, condoned a union with a man who indulged himself in such a sordid way."

Hindocha said the family was grateful for the information Leisser had shared, that they did not judge his chosen way to make a living. He said Leisser " is still a human being and we have nothing against him".

Anni's father, Vinod Hindocha, plans to sue Dewani for not disclosing his bisexuality and fondness for violent sex with male prostitutes before he married her.

Dewani has, however, gone off the radar. He was not seen in Bristol or London, where he was said to have gone to ground, this week.

Some motorists yelled "vultures" at the press pack outside his house in Westbury-on-Trym, in Bristol, and others shouted "killer".

Dewani's driveway was paint bombed and a Monopoly-inspired "get out of jail free" card was left at the gates for him.

No one, apart from his family, knows where Dewani is. Other than sending out someone to say that he was not home, and that the family was "happy" that he was free, they were not talking.

Deputy Judge President of Western Cape Jeanette Traverso ruled that evidence relating to Dewani's sexuality was not relevant in his murder trial.

Only hours after Anni's body was found Dewani logged on to Gaydar, a hook-up site for gay men.

He also used the site to contact Leisser.

Dewani's profile name on the site was "asiansubguy" (Asian submissive guy). The profile is currently not active; neither is that of the German Master.

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