Dewani ‘wanted out of marriage’

South African authorities want to extradite Shrien Dewani for his alleged role in the killing of his wife

A man accused of ordering his wife’s murder on their honeymoon has arrived at court for an extradition hearing.

South African police want to extradite Shrien Dewani, 31, from Bristol, for his alleged role in the killing.

His bride, Anni, 28, was shot when a taxi the couple were travelling in was hijacked in the Gugulethu township in Cape Town last November.

Mr Dewani, who denies any wrongdoing, is on bail but is being held at a mental health hospital in Bristol.

Mrs Dewani was found dead in the back of the abandoned vehicle with a bullet wound to her neck after taxi driver Zola Tongo took the newlyweds to the deprived township.

Tongo originally claimed his vehicle was held up and he and Dewani were ejected before Mrs Dewani was driven away and killed.

But in a plea bargain later, the taxi driver – who was jailed for 18 years for admitting his role in the murder – claimed Dewani offered him cash to arrange the killing.

Mr Dewani, a care home owner, is being detained at the Fromeside Clinic, a medium-secure mental health hospital in Bristol.

He is said to be suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

The three-day extradition hearing is due to be held at Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court in south-east London.

The hearing is to be split into two parts, with further time allowed for a psychiatric report on Mr Dewani to be carried out.

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