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

    Selfie inside an active volcano!

    Selfie inside an active volcano!
    There were a couple of volcanic eruptions last week in Iceland and Papua New Guinea. Luckily for Canadian adventurer George Kourounis, this....

    Selfie inside an active volcano!

    Obama says he has authority to act against IS

    Obama says he has authority to act against IS
    US President Barack Obama told top lawmakers Tuesday that he has the authority if he needs to take action against Islamic State (IS) militants....

    Obama says he has authority to act against IS

    IS threatens to assassinate Twitter employees

    IS threatens to assassinate Twitter employees
    A series of tweets by the Islamic State (IS) have called for retribution against the micro-blogging site Twitter, threatening to assassinate its employees....

    IS threatens to assassinate Twitter employees

    US burger chain Carl's Jr. targets Indian foodies

    US burger chain Carl's Jr. targets Indian foodies
    California-based restaurant chain Carl's Jr., known for offering charbroiled burgers and freshly prepared menu items, is entering the Indian...

    US burger chain Carl's Jr. targets Indian foodies

    Preliminary report confirms MH17 was shot down over Ukraine

    Preliminary report confirms MH17 was shot down over Ukraine
    The preliminary report from the Dutch Safety Board on the causes of the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine in July with 298...

    Preliminary report confirms MH17 was shot down over Ukraine

    Obama vows continued cooperation with Iraq

    Obama vows continued cooperation with Iraq
    US President Barack Obama Monday pledged continued "close" cooperation with Iraq on combating the Islamic State (IS) militant group as the Middle...

    Obama vows continued cooperation with Iraq