Close X
Tuesday, September 24, 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

    Kerry, Arab League chief discuss terrorism, regional issues

    Kerry, Arab League chief discuss terrorism, regional issues
    Arab League Secretary General Nabil el-Arabi Saturday said his meeting with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry focused on means to face...

    Kerry, Arab League chief discuss terrorism, regional issues

    Australia hails return of 11th century idols to India

    Australia hails return of 11th century idols to India
    The Australian High Commission Friday hailed the recent return to India of two 11th century idols from Tamil Nadu.

    Australia hails return of 11th century idols to India

    Facebook sorry after rejecting dad's ad to help baby

    Facebook sorry after rejecting dad's ad to help baby
    Facebook has apologised to a father after rejecting his advertisement on the social networking site asking people to donate money for his two-month-old son's heart transplant....

    Facebook sorry after rejecting dad's ad to help baby

    Mixed reactions to Obama's strategy to tackle IS

    Mixed reactions to Obama's strategy to tackle IS
    From scepticism to support, there were mixed reactions from key stakeholders Thursday to US President Barack Obama's announcement of sweeping...

    Mixed reactions to Obama's strategy to tackle IS

    Oscar Pistorius found not guilty of murder

    A court in South Africa Thursday found paralympian Oscar Pistorius "not guilty" of premeditated murder or murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, a case...

    Oscar Pistorius found not guilty of murder

    Turkey reluctant to allow US use its airbase against IS

    Turkey reluctant to allow US use its airbase against IS
    Turkey is not eager to allow a US-led coalition to use its Incirlik Air Base to launch attacks on militants of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni extremist group in neighbouring...

    Turkey reluctant to allow US use its airbase against IS