Family members of Anni Dewani, the Swedish-born woman who was killed while on honeymoon in South Africa, have begun arriving in London for the extradition hearing of her British widower, who is accused of masterminding her murder.
Shrien Dewani is expected to appear in the Belmarsh Magistrate’s Court next Tuesday for a full extradition hearing. He is fighting the South African National Prosecuting Authority’s application to have him extradited to Cape Town to stand trial for his wife’s murder.
The hearing has been set down for three days.
Anni Dewani’s father, Vinod Hindocha, who arrived in England with his wife, Nilam, from Sweden at the weekend, said in a phone interview on Tuesday that by the time the extradition hearing began next week, his whole family, including Anni’s uncles, would be in the UK.
“Every day is torture for us,” said Hindocha. “It has been very difficult and we hope there is a decision (at the hearing). We want answers. We need to know what happened to Anni, and Shrien is the only one who can tell us. We really hope and pray he comes to South Africa and gives us the answers we need. That is all we are asking for.”
Anni Dewani was murdered on November 13 in the township of Khayelitsha near Cape Town.
A taxi driver, Zola Tongo, who through a plea bargain alleged that Shrien Dewani had asked him to organise a hit on his wife, has already been sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment for his role in the crime. Two alleged hit men, Xolile Mngeni and Mziwamadoda Qwabe, are expected to appear in a Cape Town court on June 1.
Dewani, a multi-millionaire care-home owner, is being held at Fromeside Clinic in Bristol under the British Mental Health Act. He is said to be suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
Earlier this month, the City of Westminster Magistrate’s Court heard that although Dewani was out on bail, he would be virtually imprisoned behind the locked doors, reinforced concrete walls and 5m perimeter fence of the medium-secure hospital.
His legal team is planning to fight the extradition on the grounds of his poor mental health and the prison conditions in South Africa.
Hindocha said he felt little sympathy for Dewani’s apparent poor mental health.
“If you talk about sickness, look at our family,” he said.
If Dewani is ordered to return to South Africa at the hearing, he will have to appear in court with Mngeni and Qwabe on June 1. - Daily News