Valkenberg can deal with Dewani, court told
A BRITISH psychiatrist told a London court this week that he had “no qualms” about Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town, where murder suspect Shrien Dewani might be treated if he is extradited to South Africa.
The South African government is applying for Dewani’s extradition in connection with the investigation into the murder of his wife, Anni, in Gugulethu, Cape Town, in November 2010.
A decision on whether to extradite Dewani will be made by the chief magistrate in the Westminster court on July 24.
Psychiatrist Dr Alan Cumming visited Valkenberg Hos- pital in March. He told the court he had “no qualms about the quality of care” there.
Cumming detailed Dewani’s behaviour during his treatment at clinics in Bristol in the UK. He said Dewani had cried a lot and at one time reacted to a room search by pulling down his trousers and saying: “If you treat me like a dog I’ll bark like one.”
But he said Dewani’s condition was improving. He said Dewani spent much of his time sitting in a camper van in the grounds of a mental hospital. He had been allowed to use the internet on a laptop and had regular visits to his home.
Cumming said Dewani had told him that he wanted to fight the murder charge, but he would not volunteer to go to South Africa.
“He said he didn’t think about the case and said: ‘I haven’t done anything wrong. The truth will come out,’ ” Cumming said.
Dewani’s reasons for not returning to South Africa have included being mentally unfit and a suicide risk. His lawyers also said he risked being attacked in a South African prison.
Hugo Keith QC, representing the South African government, told the hearing that medical evidence showed that Dewani had recovered sufficiently from depression and trauma to be sent back.
Keith also argued that, although Dewani showed a poor memory and an inability to go over events connected to his wife’s murder, the prospect of a full recovery was sufficient for his extradition to be ordered.
Keith said Dewani, if given bail, could receive treatment at Valkenberg paid for by the South African government.
If remanded in jail, he would be kept in a cell of his own to reduce the chance of being attacked, Keith said.
Extradition expert Karen Todner, who works for a London-based legal firm, said this would be the last hearing in the case — “other than an appeal to the supreme court on a point of law”.
This week’s hearing was attended by relatives of the late Anni Dewani. Her uncle, Ashok Hindocha, spoke to the Sunday Times, saying: “If [Dewani] is well enough to stand trial, I think he should go now.”