Sex ‘master’ to be state’s key witness against Dewani
A HAIRY, leather-clad S&M master from the UK is set to be the prosecution’s main weapon against British honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani when his trial gets under way in Cape Town.
Sources with close knowledge of the investigation said this week that Leopold Leisser, originally from Germany, would be the state’s key witness.
This was confirmed by the father of murder victim Anni Dewani.
Leisser is expected to support allegations that Shrien is gay and plotted to have his bride killed during their November 2010 honeymoon in Cape Town to get out of their marriage.
Dewani will appear in court in Cape Town tomorrow after spending four weeks in Valkenberg, a state psychiatric hospital, where his capacity to face trial was being assessed.
The hearing tomorrow will be a pre-trial meeting to thrash out preliminary matters related to the case. An update on his mental condition is also expected to be discussed.
British prosecutors said during Dewani’s extradition hearing in London in 2011 that they had a witness who claimed the Bristol-based businessman had said he needed to “find a way out of getting married” and that he would be “disowned” by his family if he tried to break off his engagement.
The “German Master”, as Leisser, 39, is known, reportedly claimed that Dewani had paid him more than £1 000 (R17 000) on three occasions to have sex.
Leisser describes himself on his website as “Europe’s leading S&M [sadomasochism] escort” and poses in black leather pants, shirt and cap while smoking a cigar.
Leisser’s website says he is based in the UK and has “over 15 years’ experience in the S&M scene and served in the army”.
He is available for “outcalls” around the world. “It doesn’t matter if you are totally inexperienced or very experienced, Master has techniques and demands to satisfy respectful candidates at all levels. Master offers domination, bondage,
control, discipline, spanking, flogging, corporal punishment, role play and lots more,” the website states.
Leisser is described as having a “hairy body” and a trimmed beard.
Other witnesses set to be called are Anni’s father, Vinod Hindocha; a cousin whom Anni had messaged about her unhappiness with Dewani; and Zola Tongo, the chauffeur who drove Dewani and Anni around while they were honeymooning in Cape Town.
This week, Hindocha and another source confirmed that Leisser would testify for the state. “He’s our key witness,” said Hindocha.
Leisser was reticent when contacted this week.
“I couldn’t possibly comment on this. It’s an ongoing matter. I’m sorry,” he said.
Hindocha said he would testify too, alongside Anni’s cousin, Sneha Hindocha, and two other relatives.
Sneha is expected to testify that Anni sent her SMSes complaining about how unhappy she was with Dewani and his lack of intimacy towards her. One SMS read: “I don’t want to marry him. I’m going to be unhappy for the rest of my life . . . One cannot even hug him.”
Anni’s uncle, Ashok Hindocha, said this week from Sweden: “I am sure the messages are part of the case. I think [they] can add value to the case.”
Tongo, who entered into a plea and sentencing agreement about a month after Anni was killed and is now serving an 18year jail term, is also expected to testify.
Tongo claimed Dewani was willing to pay R15 000 for the hit, which he allegedly said should look like a hijacking.
Tongo then got in touch with Xolile Mngeni and Mziwamadoda Qwabe to carry out the killing in Gugulethu.
Dewani was brought to Cape Town last month after a drawnout extradition process in the UK courts. His defence argued, among other things, that he was depressed and unfit to stand trial.
Sources say Dewani’s appearance tomorrow will be brief and the matter will be postponed to allow more time for his condition to be assessed. — Additional reporting by Philani Nombembe