Close X
Monday, December 2, 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

    Pakistani PM to visit China

    Pakistani PM to visit China
    Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is visiting China from Friday during which he is scheduled to sign projects worth $35-40 billion....

    Pakistani PM to visit China

    US Navy SEAL who shot Osama revealed

    US Navy SEAL who shot Osama revealed
    The identity of a US Navy SEAL who killed Osama Bin Laden in 2011 has been revealed, media reports said Thursday....

    US Navy SEAL who shot Osama revealed

    Third Australian vessel joins MH370 search

    Third Australian vessel joins MH370 search
    Underwater search operations to locate the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 have re-commenced with Australian vessel GO Phoenix beginning its...

    Third Australian vessel joins MH370 search

    Many Indian-Americans score victories in states

    Many Indian-Americans score victories in states
    As South Carolina's Indian American Governor Nikki Haley and California's Indian-American-African Attorney General Kamala Harris handily won their...

    Many Indian-Americans score victories in states

    Shocking:UN lacks resources to fight Ebola

    Shocking:UN lacks resources to fight Ebola
    Senior UN System Coordinator for Ebola in West Africa, Tony Banbury said Thursday that the international organisation does not have the resources necessary to combat the deadly...

    Shocking:UN lacks resources to fight Ebola

    Indian-American law student is among US youngest lawmakers

    Indian-American law student is among US youngest lawmakers
    At 23, Indian-American law student Niraj Antani, a Republican, will be one of America's youngest lawmakers after being elected to the state House in Ohio in the mid-term elections....

    Indian-American law student is among US youngest lawmakers