Shrien Dewani trial: Honeymoon murder suspect visited male escort on three occasions
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Version 0 of 1. Shrien Dewani, the Bristol businessman accused of orchestrating the murder of his wife on their honeymoon, was the “first ever client” a male escort allowed to stay at his home, a court heard on Monday. Leipold Leisser, 43, told the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town, South Africa, that he advertised his services on a website in 2009 under the name ‘Gay Master One’, and would act out his clients’ fetishes - including role play and S&M. Prosecutor Adrian Mopp told the court that during their sessions, Dewani had confided in Mr Leisser. The businessman explained that if he did not become engaged to Anni, who he is accused of murdering, his family would disown him, the South African Press Association reported. Mr Mopp said that Dewani had paid for Mr Leisser’s services on three occasions between September 2009 and April 2010. At the hearing, Mr Leisser told the court that following their first and second meeting, Dewani went to Leisser's home and slept over. “It was unusual and in fact, he was the first ever client I allowed to stay at my home. He asked me to sleep over,” Mr Leisser said. Both defence lawyer Pieter Botha and Deputy Judge President Jeanette Traverso questioned Mr Mopp regarding the relevance of the evidence, following a ruling refusing evidence related to Dewani’s sexuality as irrelevant. Mr Mopp replied that he was trying to show the court the context of Dewani’s relationship with Anni. Judge Traverso said Dewani had previously broken off another engagement and asked Mr Mopp to argue why she should allow the evidence. Mr Mopp said the court would eventually have to face the question of why Dewani would commit such a crime and that this evidence would be helpful. In response, Judge Traverso ordered the witness to stand down and ordered both representatives to provide her with written arguments on why the evidence should or should not be admitted. Dewani is accused of Anni's murder during their honeymoon in Cape Town in November 2010. He has pleaded not guilty to the five counts against him, maintaining that the couple were the victims of a hijacking on 13 November 2010. It is alleged that Dewani conspired with others to stage the hijacking in return for 15,000 rand (£850). Anni Dewani's slumped body was found in the abandoned shuttle taxi in Khayelitsha the following day. Xolile Mngeni was convicted in 2012 of firing the fatal shot from the front passenger seat of the hijacked vehicle. He died from a brain tumour on 18 October. Additional reporting by PA |