Shrien Dewani: date set for extradition to South Africa
A man accused of arranging the murder of his wife on their honeymoon will be extradited to South Africa on 7 April, its government confirms.
Shrien Dewani, 33, from Bristol, is expected to leave London and arrive in Cape Town on 8 April.
Earlier this month Dewani lost an appeal against his extradition at the high court, where judges rejected his plea not to be sent to South Africa due to mental health problems, including depression and post-traumatic stress.
Dewani is detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act.
His wife, 28-year-old Swedish national Anni Dewani died when the taxi they were travelling in was hijacked as it passed through Gugulethu, a notorious suburb of Cape Town, on the fourth day of their honeymoon.
She was allegedly dragged from the car and shot in the neck. Shrien Dewani was unharmed.
Dewani accused of arranging attack
Xolile Mngeni received a life sentence in court in Cape Town. Xolile Mngeni was convicted of Anni’s premeditated murder. Accomplice Mziwamadoda Qwabe received 25 years for murder.
The taxi driver, Zola Tongo, received 18 years for his part in the killing.
Prosecutors allege Dewani arranged for the men to kill his wife – a claim he strongly denies.
Mthunzi Mhaga, justice spokesman for the South African government, said: “He (Dewani) is expected to leave London on 7 April and land in South Africa on 8 April 2014.
“Upon arrival the National Prosecuting Authority and South African Police Service will cause him to appear in the Western Cape High Court depending on the time of his arrival.
“He will be kept in a medical facility due to his peculiar condition
“We are working tirelessly to ensure that his return to our shores brings to finality this protracted legal process. We are confident that he will receive a fair trial in our courts.”
A recent BBC Panorama appeared to find holes in the case against Dewani and Dewani’s family claim he will not face a fair trial in South Africa.
‘He lied to himself’
The South African police faced criticism when national police commissioner General Bheki Cele said of the case: “A monkey came all the way from London to have his wife murdered here. Shrien thought we South Africans were stupid when he came all the way to kill his wife in our country. He lied to himself.”
Cele faced widespread condemnation in South Africa for making the comments. He was later fired for corruption.
Speaking after Dewani lost his High Court appeal, Anni’s father Vinod Hindocha expressed relief, saying the legal process had been torture for the family:
“We are quite happy with the decision and we hope to get the answers that we have been seeking for the past three-and-a-half years. I really don’t know what happened to my daughter. We need answers. We hope to get justice.”