Honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani should be extradited to South Africa to face trial over his wife’s death, a judge ruled today.
His attempt to stay in Britain for further hospital treatment was rejected by Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle.
Dewani did not attend Westminster magistrates’ court for the decision but 35 friends and members of the victim’s family wearing lapel badges bearing her face filled every available seat.
The court heard that the 33-year-old businessman, who denies any involvement in the murder of his wife, is making a slow recovery and will receive full medical support in South Africa for his serious mental illness.
His wife Anni, 28, was shot dead as the couple travelled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010. Three men have so far been convicted over her death. Outside court Ami Denbourg, the victim’s elder sister, said: “This is one step in the right direction but nobody knows the full extent of the nightmare we have been through in the last two and a half years.
“It is all about a young woman who lost her life on her honeymoon — my lovely sister.”
Her father, Vinod Hindocha, added: “The time it has taken for him to be sent back has all been about aiding his recovery but for us it has been pure torture. Finally he is on his way to South Africa and we may at last get the full story about what happened to my darling Anni.
“It was terrible losing Anni but to go through all this time without a conclusion has been a further agony on agony. I want to be able to mourn for her with my family privately and that will be possible only once the police investigation into Shrien has been completed.”
Dewani’s lawyers now have 14 days to lodge an appeal which could still delay extradition for many months.
District Judge Riddle had given the go ahead to Dewani’s extradition in 2011 but the High Court granted an appeal on the basis of his mental health.
Dewani has been treated in mental hospitals near Bristol for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and made an attempt on his own life.
In today’s judgment Judge Riddle said that Dewani was still not fit to plead or stand trial at present.
But he added: “It may be a long time before he is fit to plead but he may be closer to that point.
“The evidence is Dewani will receive the care he needs in South Africa. There remains a real risk of suicide but there are systems in place to minimise that risk.”
