Close X
Friday, November 15, 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

    South Africa to grant Indians business visas in four days

    South Africa to grant Indians business visas in four days
    South Africa will grant visas to Indian businessmen wishing to explore prospects in the country within four days of submitting an application, its envoy here said Thursday.

    South Africa to grant Indians business visas in four days

    It's Official: South Asia is World's Most Corrupt Region

    It's Official: South Asia is World's Most Corrupt Region
    South Asia is the world's most corrupt region and rampant corruption is preventing people here from breaking the barrier of poverty despite the fact that the subcontinent has attained strong economic growth over the past several years, a global anti-graft watchdog 

    It's Official: South Asia is World's Most Corrupt Region

    Indian-American Obama critic pleads guilty to campaign finance fraud

    Indian-American Obama critic pleads guilty to campaign finance fraud
    Dinesh D'Souza, an Indian-American conservative commentator and author who shot to fame with a highly critical 2012 documentary of President Barack Obama, has pleaded guilty to violating federal campaign finance law.

    Indian-American Obama critic pleads guilty to campaign finance fraud

    Indian cabbie deported for Australian's rape

    Indian cabbie deported for Australian's rape
    An Australian court has ordered the deportation of an Indian taxi driver after convicting him for indecently assaulting a woman passenger four years ago, a media report said.

    Indian cabbie deported for Australian's rape

    EU delivers 100 mn euros of aid to Ukraine

    EU delivers 100 mn euros of aid to Ukraine
    The European Union (EU) Tuesday disbursed its first loan tranche of 100 million euros ($137 million) to Ukraine, marking the start of its financial assistance to the country.

    EU delivers 100 mn euros of aid to Ukraine

    Pakistan's Geo TV faces ban

    Pakistan's Geo TV faces ban
    Pakistani authorities have suspended the licences of three television channels owned by the Geo TV network, a leading daily reported Tuesday.

    Pakistan's Geo TV faces ban