Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
International

Freed Of Murder Charge, British-indian Businessman Shrien Dewani To Return Home

IANS, 09 Dec, 2014 12:48 PM
    An Indian-origin businessman from Britain, Shrien Dewani is preparing to leave South Africa after a judge cleared him of arranging the murder of his wife on their honeymoon, media reported Tuesday.
     
    Dewani, 33, was accused of ordering the murder of his wife, 28-year-old Anni Dewani, who was shot on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010 during the course of their honeymoon, BBC reported.
     
    On Monday, Deputy Judge President Jeanette Traverso of the Western Cape High Court dismissed the case against him, after describing evidence from prosecution witnesses as "riddled with contradictions".
     
    Anni's family said they were heartbroken that the case was dismissed before Dewani testified.
     
    "We feel as a family that the justice system has failed us and we are deeply disappointed," Anni's sister Ami Denborg said.
     
    "We came here looking for answers and we came here looking for the truth, and all we got was more questions."
     
    "We would have preferred to have known about his secret sex life with male prostitutes and the activities he engaged in before he married Anni," Denborg said referring to Dewani's admission in court that he was bi-sexual.
     
    Judge Traverso said claims by the chief prosecution witness, cab driver Zola Tongo, about the murder were "riddled with contradictions", "highly debatable" and the evidence from the prosecution was "far below" the required threshold.
     
    Three men - Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and gunman Xolile Mngeni - have already been convicted for their part in the murder, which happened during a late-night tour of a township when their chauffeur-driven car was hijacked.
     
    Dewani was in South Africa as he was extradited from Britain in April to stand trial for Anni's murder.
     
    He faced five counts, including kidnapping, murder, and defeating the ends of justice, and has pleaded not guilty to all of them.
     
    He has maintained that he and his wife were the victims of a hijacking Nov 13, 2010.
     
    Dewani was thrown out of the car later that night and Anni's body was found the next day with a single gun shot wound on her neck.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Sharif urges Obama to take up Kashmir issue with India

    Sharif urges Obama to take up Kashmir issue with India
    US President Barack Obama spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over telephone Friday and urged him to take up the Kashmir issue with India....

    Sharif urges Obama to take up Kashmir issue with India

    Obama's immigration plan falls short of Indian techies' hopes

    Obama's immigration plan falls short of Indian techies' hopes
    As President Barack Obama camapaigned to sell his immigration plan to shield up to five million people from deportation and retain high-skilled immigrants...

    Obama's immigration plan falls short of Indian techies' hopes

    Obama Set To Be Chief Guest At India's Republic Day Celebrations

    Obama Set To Be Chief Guest At India's Republic Day Celebrations
    Signifying a renewal of the India-US strategic partnership, President Barack Obama has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to join...

    Obama Set To Be Chief Guest At India's Republic Day Celebrations

    India wants to energise trade ties with EU

    India wants to energise trade ties with EU
    Indian Ambassador to the European Union (EU) and Belgium Manjeev Singh Puri has called for energising EU-India trade and economic relations....

    India wants to energise trade ties with EU

    IS launches major offensive against Iraqi city

    IS launches major offensive against Iraqi city
    The Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical group launched a large-scale offensive Friday on the Iraqi city of Ramadi, the capital of strife-torn Anbar province...

    IS launches major offensive against Iraqi city

    Four nabbed, jailed for murders of Miss Honduras, sister

    Four nabbed, jailed for murders of Miss Honduras, sister
    Four people involved in the murder of Miss Honduras World Maria Jose Alvarado and her sister Sofia Trinidad, whose bodies were buried Thursday...

    Four nabbed, jailed for murders of Miss Honduras, sister