‘Last chance’ for Anni’s dad to get truth
THE start of Anni Dewani’s inquest in the UK this week could be the culmination of her family’s quest for “the truth”.
Anni’s body was found in Gugulethu on November 13 2010. Her husband, Shrien Dewani, was arrested for her murder but last year charges were dropped against him in the Western Cape High Court.
Her father, Vinod Hindocha, is disappointed at the South African authorities, who allegedly assured him they had a “watertight case” against the millionaire from Bristol.
All Hindocha has ever wanted is for Shrien to take the stand and give his version of the events that led to Anni’s death. Now he hopes his son-in-law will be called to testify about that fateful night at the inquest.
A spokesman for North London coroner Andrew Walker said the hearing into the death of Anni had been “listed for mention” on Wednesday, but cautioned that it was likely to be a short sitting.
It is expected that lawyers for both Shrien and Anni’s family will make representations.
Hindocha said he would travel to London with his brother, Ashok, on Tuesday.
“They might say we carry on or we close the chapter. I don’t know. We have to wait and see what the coroner decides,” said Hindocha.
“But I want [Shrien] to go on the stand and tell us the truth. That is my priority, that is what I’ve been asking all this time. I want to know why he left her alone that night.”
On the night of Anni’s death, the pair were hijacked and the attackers pushed Shrien out of the vehicle and left with Anni, who was later found dead.
The taxi driver, Zola Tongo, was convicted along with Xolile Mngeni and Mziwamadoda Qwabe. Tongo and Qwabe confessed to the abduction and murder, but accuse Shrien of orchestrating Anni’s killing.
As the family has decided against a civil suit against Shrien, this might be their last chance to hear him speak.
Hindocha said neither Shrien nor his family had apologised for what had happened.
“That is the least he could do. He was supposed to be my son- in-law,” he said.
The distraught father believes Shrien is living a carefree life, unaffected by the death of his wife.
Recently, a family member spotted him on holiday in Kenya. Last month, he seemed “normal” and acted “absolutely as if nothing happened” at a temple in Bristol.
Since Anni’s death her family has been jetting around the world in their quest for justice.
Hindocha has been to South Africa five times and to the UK 27 times.
Tragedy struck in March this year when he was repairing a lift in Sweden. His arm was ripped off and he lost consciousness. During that time he said Anni came to him.
“She came to me and said: ‘Pappa, what are you doing here? Your time is not yet, you have a lot of things to clear, go back.’ ” — Additional reporting by Marvin Meintjies