Close X
Monday, September 23, 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

    Are India-Pak Heading For A War? Border situation deteriorating, Pakistan tells UN

    Are India-Pak Heading For A War? Border situation deteriorating, Pakistan tells UN
    Pakistan has again approached the UN on the "deteriorating situation" along the Kashmir border, and called for an end to the Kashmir dispute in line with ...

    Are India-Pak Heading For A War? Border situation deteriorating, Pakistan tells UN

    US sets aside $20 mn for strategic tech projects with India

    US sets aside $20 mn for strategic tech projects with India
    With the India-US Defence Trade and Technology Initiative regaining momentum after the Indian elections, the US has set aside $20 million for strategic....

    US sets aside $20 mn for strategic tech projects with India

    Explosion Prompts Evacuation At Saskatchewan Gas Pumping Facility

    Explosion Prompts Evacuation At Saskatchewan Gas Pumping Facility
    PRUDHOMME, Sask. - An explosion and fire at a gas pumping station in Saskatchewan on Saturday prompted an evacuation. RCMP said the blast occurred at a TransGas facility near this small community, northeast of Saskatoon.

    Explosion Prompts Evacuation At Saskatchewan Gas Pumping Facility

    Crude Oil Prices Stabilise After Sharp Decline

    Crude Oil Prices Stabilise After Sharp Decline
    The crude oil market suffered another big weekly loss amid concerns over surplus supplies. This week, the prices of US crude and Brent crude dropped 4.4 percent and 2.3 percent respectively.

    Crude Oil Prices Stabilise After Sharp Decline

    US sets aside $20 mn for strategic tech projects with India

    US sets aside $20 mn for strategic tech projects with India
    With the India-US Defence Trade and Technology Initiative regaining momentum after the Indian elections, the US has set aside $20 million for strategic cooperative science and technology projects with India, according to a top US official.

    US sets aside $20 mn for strategic tech projects with India

    Canada gears up to join the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq

    Canada gears up to join the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq
    OTTAWA - Defence Minister Rob Nicholson says an advance military team will leave Trenton, Ont., for Kuwait next week as Canada gears up to join the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq.

    Canada gears up to join the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq