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Dewani ‘exchanged texts with former sexual partner after wife’s death’ Dewani ‘exchanged texts with former sexual partner after wife’s death’
(35 minutes later)
A man who sold stories about his sexual liaisons with Shrien Dewani held a brief text message conversation with him three weeks after his wife Anni’s murder in Cape Town, a court has heard.A man who sold stories about his sexual liaisons with Shrien Dewani held a brief text message conversation with him three weeks after his wife Anni’s murder in Cape Town, a court has heard.
Having met Dewani for sex on three occasions before his wife’s death on 13 November 2010, Leopold Leisser, a prostitute, got back in contact with his former client on 3 December the same year.Having met Dewani for sex on three occasions before his wife’s death on 13 November 2010, Leopold Leisser, a prostitute, got back in contact with his former client on 3 December the same year.
Explaining this, Leisser told Dewani’s trial on Tuesday that he “suddenly noticed that his Gaydar profile was deleted and sent him a text message asking if he’s OK. He just responded and said he was very, very busy and he will get in touch again.”Explaining this, Leisser told Dewani’s trial on Tuesday that he “suddenly noticed that his Gaydar profile was deleted and sent him a text message asking if he’s OK. He just responded and said he was very, very busy and he will get in touch again.”
Leisser – whose working name is the German Master – revealed the text message exchange as he was asked about his decision to sell stories about Dewani to the Sun.Leisser – whose working name is the German Master – revealed the text message exchange as he was asked about his decision to sell stories about Dewani to the Sun.
The 43-year-old – who is based in Birmingham but is originally from Munich – said that at around the same time he contacted Dewani by text he also communicated with the media relations agency PHA, run by the former News of the World editor Phil Hall.The 43-year-old – who is based in Birmingham but is originally from Munich – said that at around the same time he contacted Dewani by text he also communicated with the media relations agency PHA, run by the former News of the World editor Phil Hall.
PHA, Leisser said, negotiated an exclusive deal with the Sun by which Leisser received £18,000 for two published stories and PHA got a £7,000 fee.PHA, Leisser said, negotiated an exclusive deal with the Sun by which Leisser received £18,000 for two published stories and PHA got a £7,000 fee.
Leisser said the Sun initially planned to publish a third story “for a very big sum of money”, but he decided not to go ahead with this as he “did not want it to impact on the evidence” he had already given police. Leisser said the Sun initially planned to publish a third story “for a very big sum of money”, but he decided not to go ahead with this as he “did not want it to impact on the evidence” he had already given to police.
Attempting to justify his decision to earn money from his hitherto secret liaisons with Dewani, Leisser said that, as result of the Sun’s stories, he had had to stop his escort agency temporarily.Attempting to justify his decision to earn money from his hitherto secret liaisons with Dewani, Leisser said that, as result of the Sun’s stories, he had had to stop his escort agency temporarily.
“I know that £18,000 sounds a lot but at the time I would spend £4,000 a month so it was really not that much,” Leisser told South Africa’s high court on Tuesday morning. “I know that £18,000 sounds a lot but at the time I would spend £4,000 a month so it was really not that much,” Leisser told South Africa’s high court.
Leisser’s account of his dealings with PHA and the Sun was one of the few elements of his testimony that Dewani’s trial judge has permitted to be heard in court.Leisser’s account of his dealings with PHA and the Sun was one of the few elements of his testimony that Dewani’s trial judge has permitted to be heard in court.
Having stopped Leisser mid-evidence on Monday, Judge Jeanette Traverso on Tuesday heard lengthy legal argument as to whether or not Leisser’s evidence was relevant to the issue of whether Dewani killed his wife.Having stopped Leisser mid-evidence on Monday, Judge Jeanette Traverso on Tuesday heard lengthy legal argument as to whether or not Leisser’s evidence was relevant to the issue of whether Dewani killed his wife.
The defence argued that Dewani’s decision to pay Leisser for sex might be considered exactly analogous to any other groom’s decision to pay a female prostitute for sex before his wedding. Traverso ruled most of Leisser’s evidence immaterial. Leisser was told he could go home.The defence argued that Dewani’s decision to pay Leisser for sex might be considered exactly analogous to any other groom’s decision to pay a female prostitute for sex before his wedding. Traverso ruled most of Leisser’s evidence immaterial. Leisser was told he could go home.
Anni Dewani was shot once in the neck after the taxi she and her husband were travelling in was hijacked as it passed through the Cape Town township of Gugulethu while the couple were on their South African honeymoon.Anni Dewani was shot once in the neck after the taxi she and her husband were travelling in was hijacked as it passed through the Cape Town township of Gugulethu while the couple were on their South African honeymoon.
Three of the South African men involved in the hijack and robbery plot have claimed that its ultimate aim was Anni Dewani’s murder and that they carried this out at Shrien Dewani’s explicit behest. Three of the South African men involved in the hijack and robbery plot have claimed that its ultimate aim was Anni’s murder and that they carried this out at Shrien Dewani’s explicit behest.
The prosecutor Adrian Mopp claimed in court on Monday that Leisser’s now disallowed evidence may have “pointed towards” a potential motive for murder. The prosecutor Adrian Mopp claimed in court on Monday that Leisser’s now disallowed evidence may have pointed towards a potential motive for murder.
Shrien Dewani, from Bristol, has said he is bisexual and met Leisser for sex on three occasions, the most recent time being six months before he married Anni Dewani. He denies being involved in any murder plot. Dewani, from Bristol, has said he is bisexual and met Leisser for sex on three occasions, the most recent time being six months before he married Anni. He denies being involved in any murder plot.
The case continues.The case continues.