Anni Dewani UK inquest 'would serve no purpose'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-34198284

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The husband of murdered bride Anni Dewani is to be asked if he will answer questions posed by her family and a coroner at a UK inquest.

But her family were told that if he refused to answer questions "that may incriminate himself" an inquest in the UK "would serve no purpose".

Coroner Andrew Walker was responding to Anni Dewani's father and uncle at North London Coroner's Court.

The murder case against Mr Dewani was thrown out by a judge in South Africa.

Three South African men were given jail terms for their role in her death.

'The right story'

The prosecution case against the 34-year-old businessman in relation to the death of his wife in 2010 was "riddled with inconsistencies" the judge decided.

Mrs Dewani's father Vinod Hindocha, and uncle Ashok Hindocha appeared before the hearing at North London Coroner's Court to argue that Mr Dewani should be ordered to attend a UK inquest and answer their questions.

But Mr Walker told them Mr Dewani had a right not to respond to anything that might incriminate him.

In such circumstances he said "it would serve no purpose to hold an inquest because I would not be able to answer the questions that an inquest sets out to answer".

He directed that the family's questions should be sent to Mr Dewani and he would be asked to indicate whether he would be prepared to answer them.

Ashok Hindocha told the court there were discrepancies between what Mr Dewani had told the family, the press and the South African police, and asked for a "chance to hear the right story from him" so they could hear "what really happened."

"The motive of this case was never properly heard in South Africa."

The prosecution had claimed Mr Dewani arranged a hijacking which went wrong and his wife was fatally shot.

Mr Walker directed that another hearing will take place on 9 October.