Alibi witness testifies in Dewani case

THE alleged killer of tourist Anni Dewani watched television and drank liquor with friends the night of her murder, his alibi witness told the Western Cape High Court.

Nombulelo Mato, 24, said her friend Khuselwa and her friend's boyfriend Xolile Mngeni stayed at her house on the evening of November 13 2010.

"He [Mngeni] was accompanied by one of his friends . They arrived past 9pm to 10pm," she said.

Khuselwa was already at the house because she had arranged to stay over for the whole weekend.

Mngeni has pleaded not guilty to hijacking, robbing and killing Dewani that night.

Mato, her boyfriend and his sister, Mngeni, Khuselwa and Mngeni's friend all sat in a room in the main house in Site B, Khayelitsha. They watched television and everyone except Mato drank.

People left as the evening progressed, until only the two couples remained.

Mato testified that Khuselwa asked her whether Mngeni could also sleep over as he looked drunk. She agreed and the couple left about 1.30am to sleep in a shack on the premises.

Khuselwa came to her at about 7am and asked for warm water so Mngeni could wash himself. She told the court she also saw Mngeni later that day when he returned to her house to look for Khuselwa.

The trial continues.

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