Honeymoon murder suspect ruled mentally f it for his trial
MURDER suspect Shrien Dewani will stand trial in October for plotting to kill his new bride after a panel of psychiatric experts ruled that he was mentally fit.
The 34- year- old businessman, who denies any involvement, lost a lengthy battle against extradition to South Africa in April after claiming to be too traumatised and depressed to face justice.
But mental health experts in the country unanimously agreed Dewani was well enough to be tried for wife Anni’s abduction and murder during their honeymoon in 2010 after observing him for 30 days.
Anni’s sister Ami Denborg, who l i ves i n Sweden, yesterday welcomed the news, saying it was a ‘step in the right direction’.
She 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 f eels l i ke we’re moving forward.’ Dewani’s parents and brother attended yesterday’s brief hearing at which prosecutor Rodney de Kock told the Cape Town High Court: ‘The accused is not mentally ill. The accused is not certifiable.’
Dewani, who was dressed in a dark suit and tie, seemed less confused than at his two previous appearances. He did not speak, but nodded to acknowledge that he had understood.
Anni, 28, was murdered in November 2010 after the couple’s taxi was held up on the edge of a township.
Dewani was released unharmed, but Anni’s body was found the next day in the abandoned vehicle with a fatal gunshot wound to her neck. Dewani returned home to Bristol a few days later. He was arrested and a lengthy legal battle ensued, during which Dewani’s lawyers claimed he was too unwell to travel and would not receive a fair trial in South Africa.
The case is set to be heard on October 6, when Dewani will face charges relating to kidnapping, robbery and murder.
He will continue to be held at t he Valkenberg psychiatric hospital in the meantime.
Three men have already been convicted over Anni’s murder, who all implicated Dewani in plotting it.