South Africa honeymoon murder: husband granted bail

South African authorities are seeking to have Shrien Dewani. 30, extradited from the UK for conspiring to murder his new wife Anni, 28, while they were on their honeymoon in Cape Town.

Mrs Dewani was found shot dead in the back of a taxi after being kidnapped in a carjacking last month after her husband had been told to get out of the vehicle.

A High Court judge today granted Mr Dewani bail, despite opposition from South African authorities who claim the suspect may flee if released.

Mr Dewani, a wealthy care home owner from Bristol, denies involvement in his wife’s death.

He had been held at London’s Wandsworth prison and was released under stringent bail conditions and £250,000 surety.

CCTV evidence

Appearing at the hearing in London today a lawyer representing the South African authorities said “significant new evidence” had come to light in the case against Mr Dewani.

He has no criminal convictions, is professionally qualified and his family is of high standing in the local community in Bristol, with no obvious interest in helping him to abscond. Mr Justice Ouseley

Ben Watson told Mr Justice Ouseley this included new CCTV footage which purportedly shows Mr Dewani meeting the taxi driver, who has been jailed for his wife’s murder, after her death.

But the judge ruled there was “strong support” for the submission that Mr Dewani “genuinely hopes that the investigation will clear him”.

“He has no criminal convictions, is professionally qualified and his family is of high standing in the local community in Bristol, with no obvious interest in helping him to abscond,” the judge said.

“He has a continuing and realistic interest in making sure that he clears his name.”

Mr Dewani’s family welcomed the decision, saying they were “delighted that the courts have consistently upheld Shrien Dewani’s right to bail, acknowledging his co-operation with the authorities in South Africa and in the UK”.

The South African authorities had appealed to the High Court against a decision earlier this week by a judge at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court to grant bail.

Their lawyers argued there were substantial grounds for suspecting Mr Dewani would not surrender for an extradition hearing later this month.

District Judge Howard Riddle said the “powerful facts” in favour of bail included Mr Dewani’s co-operation with the South African police and then the UK police as rumours started of his involvement in the death of his wife.

Murder

Mrs Dewani was found dead in the back of an abandoned taxi in Cape Town with a single bullet wound to her neck on 13 November.

The couple, who were on their honeymoon, were travelling through a township when their car was hijacked. Mr Dewani was later released unharmed.

Taxi driver Zola Tongo, 31, has been jailed for 18 years for his part in the murder. After his conviction Tongo told authorities he was offered money by Mr Dewani to kill his wife.

Two other men charged with murder, kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances, will appear before Wynberg Regional Court on 25 February.