'Incriminating' texts detailed in Saunders murder trial

The couple, who were married for over 40 years, had been making a documentary on plants and seeds for the BBC when they disappeared in Vryheid in February 2018.

The trial of their alleged killers is underway in the Durban High Court.

A cybercrime analyst has presented text messages, taken from two cell phones, one belonging to Safydeen Del Vecchio and the other from his wife, Fatima Patel.

In one conversation, Del Vecchio tells an unknown person that he's bought a drone for "battle intel".

The two converse about taking money from non-believers of Islam to use in aiding fighters, mujahideen, in Islamic countries who are against non-Muslim forces.

They speak about aiding those who need machines to bring non-believers down.

Del Vecchio said with white wealth, they can raise an army and do whatever they want and cause as much damage as possible.

The two converse about working in secret so that no one knows what they are doing under the state.

In another conversation, Del Vecchio tells accused number three, Ahmad Mussa that there is an elderly couple in the forest, adding that it's a good hunt.

Mussa responds with "it's on".

In another conversation, Del Vecchio alerted his wife to the same elderly couple in the forest.

Patel asked if it looks good, to which Del Vecchio respondsed "very good" and asked where are the lions.

Patel said she's on her way before Del Vecchio told her to stay on and check that nobody comes.

The analyst finished off with another communication between Del Vecchio and his wife over two sets of gold bangles she attempted to buy, allegedly with the Saunders credit card.

Patel told Del Vecchio, while in a store, that the sellers want to call the bank over the sale.

Del Vecchio told her to remain calm.

She asked if she should try and leave or say she needs to go to the bathroom.

He says no.