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

    Saudi Arabia bans import of Indian chili peppers

    Saudi Arabia bans import of Indian chili peppers
    Saudi Arabia, the fifth-largest importer of fresh vegetables from India, has banned the import of Indian chili due to the presence of high pesticide residues in it, media reported Friday.

    Saudi Arabia bans import of Indian chili peppers

    Boko Haram wants to swap kidnapped girls for jailed members

    Boko Haram wants to swap kidnapped girls for jailed members
    Former Boko Haram negotiator, Shehu Sani has said the group plans to exchange the 300 kidnapped schoolgirls for its "comrades" in jails in Nigeria, media reported Friday.

    Boko Haram wants to swap kidnapped girls for jailed members

    '1,281 died of infectious diseases in China'

    '1,281 died of infectious diseases in China'
    A total of 1,281 people died of infectious diseases on the Chinese mainland in April, the country's National Health and Family Planning Commission announced Thursday.

    '1,281 died of infectious diseases in China'

    Pakistan test fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile

    Pakistan test fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile
    Pakistan Thursday conducted successful training launch of a short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, capable of delivering nuclear and conventional warheads, the military said.

    Pakistan test fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile

    Last Al Qaeda bastion in southeast Yemen seized

    Last Al Qaeda bastion in southeast Yemen seized
    Yemeni armed forces Thursday dislodged Al Qaeda militants from their last bastion in the country's southeastern region, the defence ministry said.

    Last Al Qaeda bastion in southeast Yemen seized

    Arrested FBI agent doesn't enjoy diplomatic immunity: Pakistan

    Arrested FBI agent doesn't enjoy diplomatic immunity: Pakistan
    The Pakistan foreign ministry Thursday said an employee of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested this week for carrying ammunition does not enjoy diplomatic immunity.

    Arrested FBI agent doesn't enjoy diplomatic immunity: Pakistan