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British man 'fit to stand trial' for wife's murder

Updated 11:20am A South African court has ruled a British man accused of murdering his wife on th...
Newstalk
Newstalk

09.32 15 Aug 2014


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British man 'fit to st...

British man 'fit to stand trial' for wife's murder

Newstalk
Newstalk

09.32 15 Aug 2014


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Updated 11:20am

A South African court has ruled a British man accused of murdering his wife on their honeymoon is fit to stand trial.

A mental health panel in South Africa unanimously decided that businessman Shrien Dewani (34) is not mentally ill and should be tried in October for Anni Dewani's murder in Cape Town.

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Her sister Ami Denborg said "It's a relief for all of us. We've been waiting quite a long time for this."

"I know this autumn is going to be tough for us but we still want the trial to start so that we can get the information we need, we can get to know what really happened."

"It feels like we're moving forward. It's still a long way to go but at least we're taking steps in the right direction, and this feels like a huge step in the right direction," she added.

Announcing the decision, Judge John Hlophe said the trial date had been set for October 6th.

"The draft handed in by the state is hereby made an order of the court," said Judge Hlophe, after receiving an expert assessment which stated Dewani was not mentally ill.

Director of public prosecutions Rodney de Kock told the Western Cape High Court: "The accused is not mentally ill.

"The accused is not certifiable in terms of the Mental Health Act."

The South African Press Association reported that Dewani's lawyer, Francois van Zyl, said the mental health panel had made a unanimous decision.

The panel included members such as Professor Tuviah Zabow, who was appointed by the court as a psychiatrist for Dewani.

"We are in agreement. There is no objection," Van Zyl said.

Dewani, whose family attended court, is expected to appear again on September 9th for a pre-trial hearing, before his trial starts on October 6th.

Honeymoon shooting 

The millionaire, from Bristol, is accused of ordering Anni's murder during their honeymoon in November 2010.

She was shot in the neck as the couple travelled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town.

Dewani, who has not yet entered pleas, faces charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.

He has previously claimed that the couple were kidnapped at gunpoint as they drove through Gugulethu township.

He says he was released unharmed but his wife's body was found in the abandoned car the next day.

His trial date follows a protracted legal battle over the seriousness of his mental health problems.

Dewani has been detained in a hospital in Britain for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and was extradited from the UK in April to face trial.

A panel of three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist assessed Dewani's mental health over 30 days.

Three men have been convicted and jailed over Mrs Dewani's death, including taxi driver Zola Tongo, who was given 18 years after admitting his role in the killing.

Xolile Mngeni, who prosecutors claim was the hitman, was convicted of premeditated murder over the shooting.

Another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, pleaded guilty to murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence.


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