Dewani video doesn’t sway officer

An investigating officer conceded British businessman Shrien Dewani and his wife Anni were affectionate in footage shown in the Western Cape High Court yesterday.

Shrien Dewani’s defence team called Captain Paul Hendrikse back to the stand because they forgot to show him the footage and certain phone messages.

Hendrikse led the police’s investigation after the couple’s shuttle taxi was hijacked in Gugulethu, Cape Town on November 13, 2010 and Anni was shot dead.

The footage shown in court was of the couple walking back late to the Cape Grace Hotel a night before the incident, hand in hand. The couple were dressed smartly and laughed together. Dewani wrapped his arm around his wife and nuzzled her neck.

In another video clip, taken at the hotel bar, the couple took photos of each other, got staff to take photos and cuddled in a small booth. Dewani was seen putting his arm around her and kissing her. Hendrikse confirmed he had seen the footage.

Van Zyl said this affection contrasted with the state’s view that he had paid to have his wife killed while on honeymoon.

Hendrikse acknowledged what the footage seemed to show but added Dewani never disclosed a phone call to his convicted shuttle taxi driver Zola Tongo that night.

Deputy Judge President Jeanette Traverso asked how that fitted into the question asked of him.

“The investigation proves there was a phone call between Tongo and Dewani that evening. He never told us about it; he lied about the family,” the officer replied.

He added this showed something sinister was afoot. –