The 60-year-old witness, identified only as "Mr Q", claimed he had designed and manufactured an umbrella, with a spring-loaded plunger which forced liquid into four needles mounted in the ferrule - presumably to inject someone.
"Q", who worked at various SA Defence Force front companies before joining the Civil Co-Operation Bureau death squad, was an armourer for the notorious Rhodesian Sealous Scouts in the 1970s. Because he still deals with Southern African Development Community countries and has family in Zimbabwe, he fears the repercussions if his true identity is made known.
On Basson's instructions, "Q" also manufactured a walking stick capable of firing a small ball, into which a liquid or powder could be injected. He presumed that it would be used to shoot someone to inject poison into the person's body. Basson regularly checked his progress and also gave him guidelines.
He also made several "special applicators", which included a range of screwdrivers, containing spring-loaded plungers capable of releasing poison.
"Q" also designed and manufactured letter-bomb mechanisms for the SADF. One of his less intricate designs was that of a ring, capable of dispensing a poison powder, which was manufactured at Basson's request. Another deadly device (See image below) consisted of a blade, powered by a blank pistol cartridge, which was hidden in a cigarette packet and was capable of carrying a poison.
