Shrien Dewani trial: Men who planned Anni murder not "the A-team of contract killer"

Arguing  the murder case against her husband Shrien Dewani should not be thrown out, prosecutor Adrian Mopp said the murder plot was 'amateurish and almost comical'

Comical: The conspiracy to kill Anni Dewani was 'amateurish' a court heard

honeymoon bride Anni Dewani were not "the A-team of contract killers", a court has been told.

Arguing that the murder case against her husband Shrien Dewani should not be thrown out, prosecutor Adrian Mopp told the Western Cape High Court in South Africa that the murder plot was amateurish and almost comical.

Lawyers for the millionaire businessman have asked a South African judge to throw the case against him out and allow him to return to England.

Francois van Zyl, defending Dewani, has claimed there are inconsistencies in evidence given against his client.

Saving Case: State prosecutor Adrian Mopp has been arguing for the Shrien Dewani trial to continue

Mopp said: "We know these individuals were not the A-team of contract killers. They could barely organise transport from Khayelitsha to Gugulethu.

"We are dealing with an amateurish attempt. If it were not for the killing of the deceased, it would actually be comical, the manner in which this matter was set about."

Mr Mopp argued that certain people, with their world view, would expect a level of sophistication in the planning.

Deputy judge president Jeanette Traverso said two of the hitmen, Zola Tongo and Monde Mbolombo, had fairly sophisticated jobs before they lost them.

Defence Team: Dewani's defence lawyer Francois Van Zyl 

yesterday tried to have the case thrown out

Mr Mopp replied that that may be so but they were not involved in serious crime and had "vulnerabilities" that made them susceptible to being drawn into this world.

He added that fellow hitmen Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni were in a different category where they had access to illegal firearms and were unemployed.

On Monday, Judge Traverso spoke about the seemingly disorganised plan that the men allegedly organised together.

The defence and the State filed heads of argument for the discharge application last week.

Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act provides that if at the close of the prosecution's case, the court believes there is no evidence that the accused committed the offence, it may return a verdict of not guilty.

The State closed its case a week ago.

Not Experts: Mziwamadoda Qwabe is one of the men convicted of murdering Anni

on trial for allegedly plotting with Tongo and others to kill his wife Anni while they were on honeymoon on Cape Town in November 2010.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges including kidnapping, murder and defeating the ends of justice.

He claims the couple were hijacked while Tongo drove them through Gugulethu in his minibus on November 13 2010.

He was released unharmed and Anni was driven away. She was found shot dead in the abandoned minibus in Khayelitsha the next morning.

The State alleges he conspired with others to stage the hijacking, for which he paid 15,000 rand (£870).

Gunshot Wound: Anni was found dead in an abandoned minibus

surprise helicopter trip for Anni for 15,000 rand.

Tongo is serving an 18-year jail term and Qwabe, a 25-year jail term. Mngeni was serving life in jail for firing the shot that killed Anni, but died in prison from a brain tumour on October 18.

Mbolombo was granted immunity from prosecution on two charges during Mngeni's trial but was warned he faced possible prosecution on various charges if he did not testify truthfully during Dewani's.

After hearing the two day application, the judge decided she needs two weeks to make a final decision on whether the trial should go ahead of Dewani should walk out of court a free man.

The case will continue on Monday, December 8 when she will announce her ruling.

For a recap of todays hearing, click here.

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