Honeymoon murder bride sister: I don’t know what to believe

Channel 4 News Home Affairs Correspondent Andy Davies has spoken by phone to the sister of murdered Anni Dewani, killed during her honeymoon in South Africa.

The conversation followed the arrest of groom Shrien Dewani in connection with her death. Mr Dewani will remain in custody after appearing at Westminster Magistrates where an appeal has been lodged against the granting of £250,000 bail.

Ami Denborg, who lives in Sweden, described the family’s agony to Channel 4 News: “It’s really difficult; for the family to hear this, for everyone in this situation, and all we want is the truth.”

His new wife was shot dead last month as the couple, who had only been married for a fortnight, visited a township.

Yesterday, taxi driver Zola Tongo claimed that he was offered 15,000 rand (£1,300) by businessman Mr Dewani, 30, to kill his wife.

‘Shrien was such a nice guy’

Ami admitted that Mr Dewani’s arrest and possible extradition to South Africa had left her confused about what to believe.

She said: “Shrien was such a nice guy and its just hard to believe.

“I think he was always really nice to Anni and was always laughing and they seemed to have a lot of fun together…I don’t know what to believe.”

Ami said that she had spoken to her Anni, who worked for telecommunications company Eriksson, the day before she left for South Africa and that she was “really excited” about the honeymoon.

She added: “she was a wonderful person… always happy, always smiling and she spread such a joy around her.”

Mr Dewani, from Westbury-on-Trym in Bristol, handed himself in at a police station in London on Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police said.

‘Traumatised’

Max Clifford, Mr Dewani’s spokesman, said that his client was reeling after spending the night behind bars.

He told Channel 4 News: “He’s obviously shellshocked and traumatised after a spending the night in custody; it was a nervous night.”

Mr Clifford said that said Mr Dewani and his legal team were anxious to “get to the bottom of what deal was done with a convicted murderer to get to this ridiculous situation.”

‘False allegations’

Ahead of his hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court, a statement released on Mr Dewani’s behalf by lawyer Clare Montgomery QC said: “Shrien Dewani had no involvement in the death of his wife Anni.

“He is devastated by her murder and the false allegations that have been made against him and welcomes the chance to clear his name through the courts.”

Yesterday, the Dewani family dismissed the allegation as “totally ludicrous” and Mr Clifford said he beleived that Mrs Dewani’s family were also fully behind his client.

Mrs Dewani, 28, was shot dead on November 13 after the couple’s taxi was hijacked in the Gugulethu township in Cape Town.

Mr Dewani, who was released along with the driver by the carjackers, returned to the UK after the murder and has repeatedly denied any involvement in his wife’s death.

Plea bargain

Tongo’s allegation formed part of a plea agreement drawn up with prosecutors at the court, where he was jailed for 18 years for his part in the killing.

In his formal admission, 31-year-old Tongo said he was waiting for fares at Cape Town International Airport when Mr Dewani asked to be driven to the five-star Cape Grace hotel where he allegedly offered the money to “have a client of his taken off the scene”.

The “hijacking” was arranged with the help of two hitmen – Xolile Mnguni and Mziwamadoda Qwabe, both from Khayelitsha – for the next evening, he said.

He told the court: “They then drove off with Shrien Dewani and the deceased still in the vehicle.

“I knew that (the hitmen) would not harm Shrien Dewani and that he would be dropped off at some further point. I also knew that the deceased would be kidnapped, robbed and murdered…after Shrien Dewani had been ejected from the vehicle in accordance with the plan.”

Mnguni, 23, and Qwabe, 25, also face charges of murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping and will appear at Wynberg Regional Court on February 25.