Lawyer for Dewani-accused funded by Kenyan

Cape Town - A mysterious Kenyan called “Edmondo” is footing the huge legal bill for the “hit man” accused of murdering honeymoon bride Anni Dewani.

 The shock revelation emerged on Monday after another dramatic day of evidence at the Western Cape High Court.

 Anni’s father Vinod Hindocha, 63, took the stand for the first time in the trial that has gripped the nation.

 And – in a bizarre new twist – the Daily Voice has learned that a foreign national is paying alleged triggerman Xolile Mngeni’s legal team.

 However, it is not clear why the Kenyan national – known only as Edmondo – is picking up Mngeni’s court tab.

  Question

  The question of who was paying for Mngeni’s legal bill arose earlier in the day shortly after Anni’s dad Vinod took to the witness stand.

 Trial judge Robert Henney raised an eyebrow when Mngeni’s lawyer, Matthews Dayimani, began his cross examination by asking Vinod if he had approved of Anni’s marriage to Shrien Dewani.

 Henney allowed the question after Dayimani said it was linked to allegations that Anni was killed in a conspiracy.

 “The point I’m trying to make stands from the alleged conspiracy... that a husband had a plan to have his wife killed,” Dayimani said.

 Henney said he would allow the question, but warned him to tread carefully.

  Response

 Vinod hesitantly gave his response: “I approved of the marriage, yes. Why should I not?”

 Dayimani then asked Vinod if he had paid for the wedding.

 Prosecutor Adrian Mopp jumped to his feet and accused Dayimani of going on a fishing expedition.

 Mopp then told the court that Dayimani’s actions and involvement in the trial was questionable.

 “He [Xolile Mngeni] is not paying for Mr Dayimani… so whose interest is Mr Dayimani serving?” asked Mopp.

 Speaking outside court, Dayimani insisted he is not being paid by the family of Anni’s husband Shrien – the man accused of masterminding her murder.

 He instead claimed his fees are being paid by private funders who were “interested in the case”.

 When asked who they are, Dayimani replied: “It’s a human rights organisation.”

 But when pressed further for the name of the organisation, Dayimani claimed he was actually being funded by a Kenyan man named Edmondo.

 “He is a legal consultant working on his own,” Dayimani said.

 When asked if Edmondo had any links to Dewani, Dayimani replied: “Not that I know of. Had it been mentioned to me I would not have taken that case.”

  Pleaded 

Dayimani’s client has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, aggravated robbery, murder and the illegal possession of a gun and ammunition.

 Various witnesses have already fingered Shrien Dewani as being the mastermind behind a plot to have his new bride murdered.

 Dewani has repeatedly denied the charges but is fighting attempts to have him extradited to Cape Town to stand trial here.

 He is due to return to a British court later this month when further medical evidence will be presented.

  *This article was published in the Daily Voice