Convicted killer Mziwamadoda Qwabe took a quick glance at his victim Anni Dewani after she had been shot in 2010, he told the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday.

“I took a glance, yes. She was in the back seat. I think she was lying [down] but I can’t recall whether it was the left or right-hand side,” he told prosecutor Adrian Mopp, referring to an alleged sham hijacking in Gugulethu on November 13, 2010.

He said he did not check to see whether she had survived the gunshot by accomplice Xolile Mngeni.

As they walked away from the crime scene, Mngeni took out the money he had retrieved from a pouch inside the car, which was payment for their criminal services.

“We counted the money while we were walking and it only comes to R10,000. He shows me another stack of some R4000 that he said he got from the husband,” Qwabe testified.

He said he parted ways with Mngeni and went to a party. Mngeni left with the firearm.

The following day, he called Monde Mbolombo because the “hit” money was R5000 short. Mbolombo apparently said he would sort it out with Zola Tongo, who drove the shuttle bus for the Dewanis.

Qwabe said Mngeni arrived at his house later to return his firearm.

Qwabe was arrested the following Thursday, taken to Bellville and asked questions about the crime, which he initially denied having been involved in.

Qwabe was allowed to meet Mngeni and asked him “Did you tell the police everything?”.

Mngeni said he confessed to everything and Qwabe decided he would co-operate with the police.

He took the police to where he kept his firearm and in the next two days gave a statement and pointed out where he had thrown away the bullet casing and his yellow kitchen gloves. The items were recovered in his presence.

The State alleges that Anni’s husband Shrien conspired to have her killed for a fee of R15,000. Dewani has pleaded not guilty to her murder and other charges, maintaining they were the victims of a traumatic hijacking.

Qwabe was sentenced to 25 years in jail for his role in the crime, in terms of a plea and sentencing agreement reached in August 2012.

Mngeni is serving life for pulling the trigger of the gun, while Tongo is serving 18 years in jail. SAPA