Dewani ‘fit to stand trial’ in SA








Shrien Dewani and Anni DewaniShrien and Anni Dewani were on honeymoon in Cape Town in November 2010 when she was killed


Honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani has been found fit to stand trial in South Africa by a panel of psychiatric experts.

The 34-year-old Bristol businessman is accused of ordering the murder of his wife, 28-year-old Anni, who was shot in Cape Town in 2010.

Mr Dewani, who denies murder, was extradited from Britain in April.

He was assessed over 30 days at Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town to see if he is mentally fit to stand trial.

Before his extradition, Mr Dewani was detained in a hospital in Britain for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

He lost a three-year battle to avoid trial in South Africa, which he fought on the grounds that his mental health state was too fragile to undergo a trial.


Three jailed

Mr Dewani appeared at the Western Cape High Court earlier where the conclusions of the psychiatric experts were announced.

They were not disputed by his defence team.

A pre-trial hearing was set for 9 September and Mr Dewani will continue to be detained at Valkenberg Hospital until then.

Three men are currently serving jail terms in South African in connection with the death of his Mr Dewani’ wife, including taxi driver Zola Tongo, who was given 18 years after admitting his role in the killing.

Xolile Mngeni, who prosecutors claim was the hitman, was convicted of premeditated murder over the shooting.

Another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, pleaded guilty to murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence.