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

    India must decide on joining APEC: Chinese daily

    It is high time India took a decision on joining the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) after having declined to attend the bloc's annual summit in...

    India must decide on joining APEC: Chinese daily

    US aid worker, Syrian soldiers beheaded by IS

    US aid worker, Syrian soldiers beheaded by IS
    A video has been circulating online purporting to show members of the Islamic State(IS) group beheading several Syrian soldiers and a US aid worker....

    US aid worker, Syrian soldiers beheaded by IS

    MH17 wreckage removal begins in Ukraine

    MH17 wreckage removal begins in Ukraine
    Recovery and removal of the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from its crash site in rebel-held eastern Ukraine started Sunday, the Dutch Safety Board said in a statement....

    MH17 wreckage removal begins in Ukraine

    Imran Khan turns down government's dialogue offer

    Imran Khan turns down government's dialogue offer
    Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has turned down the government’s offer to hold talks, media reported Sunday....

    Imran Khan turns down government's dialogue offer

    G20 endorses India's concerns on black money

    G20 endorses India's concerns on black money
    Endorsing India's concerns about black money and tax avoidance, G20 leaders Sunday promised to modernise international tax rules....

    G20 endorses India's concerns on black money

    'IS seven times bigger than Western estimates'

    'IS seven times bigger than Western estimates'
    The West may have severely underestimated the strength of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical organisation, which may have raised an army of at least 200,000 fighters...

    'IS seven times bigger than Western estimates'