Dewani seen at high-class restaurant in London

NINE months after being acquitted of the murder of his bride while on honeymoon in South Africa, Shrien Dewani has been snapped strolling through London.

The British businessman was spotted leaving a restaurant and bar in the upmarket suburb of Mayfair shortly before midnight on Saturday.

It was the first time Dewani has been seen in public in Britain since he returned home following his trial in Cape Town.

He was acquitted last year of masterminding the murder of his wife Anni while on honeymoon in Cape Town in 2010.

The 34-year-old left the Novikov Restaurant & Bar alone late on Saturday, and it isn’t known if he had been dining or drinking with anyone.

He was described by one onlooker as appearing “spaced out” as he walked down the street before jumping into a taxi when he realised he had been seen.

Novikov is an Asian fusion restaurant that describes itself as combining “cool and contemporary interiors with a superlative culinary offering” in the heart of Mayfair.

It has two restaurants – an Asian and Italian – which offers caviar at £190 (R3 900) per 50g, Wagyu fillets (150g) for £98 (R2 015) and a sirloin (150g) and truffle dish for £125 (R2 570).

The company also has an online takeaway menu catering for the private jet market, which boasts delivery to all London and south-east England airports upon request.

Dewani was last seen in July when Anni’s family – the Hindochas – spoke of their astonishment after a chance encounter with her husband as he enjoyed a holiday in Kenya.

One of Anni’s relatives spotted him as he relaxed in a restaurant in Nairobi.

Anni’s father, Vinod Hindocha, said: “I can’t believe he’s had the nerve to return to Africa, where my daughter died, after consistently claiming that he was too afraid and ill to travel.”

Dewani had fought extradition to South Africa, claiming he suffered mental health problems.

Hindocha added that his cousin had decided not to approach 34-year-old Dewani, but instead photographed him with a cellphone.

During the trial, 28-year-old Anni’s mother Nilam Hindocha accused him of cowardice and condemned him for leaving her daughter alone with her killers, after prosecutors alleged he had organised a hijacking while they were on honeymoon in 2010.

To the dismay of her family, the trial was halted before the defence had even begun its case, and Dewani never took the stand in his own defence.

One of the main arguments of the case against him had been the evidence of Dewani’s secret liaisons with gay prostitutes, including one called Leopold Leisser, who was allegedly told by the businessman that he wanted to find a way out of the marriage.

Eyewitnesses said he appeared to be ‘spaced out’