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Shrien Dewani 'well enough to be extradited over honeymoon murder' Shrien Dewani 'well enough to be extradited over honeymoon murder'
(about 3 hours later)
A British man sought for trial in South Africa for allegedly plotting the murder of his wife while on honeymoon in Cape Town has sufficiently recovered from depression and trauma to be extradited, a court has been told. A British businessman sought for trial in South Africa for allegedly plotting the murder of his wife while on honeymoon in Cape Town has recovered sufficiently from depression and trauma to be extradited, a court has heard.
Shrien Dewani, is currently being treated at a hospital in his home city of Bristol and did not attend the hearing at Westminster magistrates court in London on Monday. However, a barrister for the South African government said Dewani had shown enough signs of improvement to be fairly extradited, even if he then had to spend time in a Cape Town psychiatric hospital before any trial. Shrien Dewani is being treated at a hospital in his home city of Bristol and did not attend the hearing at London's Westminster magistrates court on Monday. He denies the allegations.
"We suggest that the evidence shows that there has been a significant improvement," Hugo Keith QC told the hearing, which was attended by numerous members of Dewani's family, including his father, Prakash. However, Hugo Keith QC, a barrister for the South African government, said Dewani had shown enough signs of improvement to be fairly extradited, even if he then had to spend time in a Cape Town psychiatric hospital before any trial. "We suggest that the evidence shows that there has been a significant improvement," the barrister told the hearing, which was attended by numerous members of Dewani's family, including his father, Prakash.
South African prosecutors say Dewani, 33, orchestrated the murder of his wife, 28-year-old Anni Dewani, a crime they say was carried out by a hired hitman under the guise of a botched carjacking and robbery. South African prosecutors allege that Dewani, 33, orchestrated the murder of his wife, 28-year-old Anni Dewani, a crime they say was carried out by a hired hitman under the guise of a botched carjacking and robbery.
Dewani has sought to halt his extradition on grounds of human rights, based on the state of his mental health. Psychiatrists treating the businessman have previously said he was suffering from severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and was a suicide risk. In March the high court ruled it would be "unjust and oppressive" to extradite Dewani immediately due to a deterioration in his condition. The case has now been sent back to the Westminster court. Dewani has sought to halt his extradition on grounds of human rights based on the state of his mental health. Psychiatrists treating him have previously said he was suffering from severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and was a suicide risk. In March the high court ruled it would be "unjust and oppressive" to extradite Dewani immediately, due to a deterioration in his condition. The case has now been sent back to the Westminster court.
Keith told the chief magistrate, Howard Riddle, that matters had changed significantly since March, and the evidence "points to recovery" for Dewani. His depression was now judged to be moderate, and the PTSD moderate to severe. While Dewani's risk of suicide was previously seen as real and significant, he was "no longer making active references to the possibility of self harm or suicide", Keith said. Keith told Howard Riddle, the chief magistrate, that matters had changed significantly since March, and the evidence pointed to recovery for Dewani. His depression was now judged to be moderate, and the PTSD moderate to severe. While Dewani's risk of suicide was previously seen as real and significant, he was "no longer making active references to the possibility of self-harm or suicide", Keith said.
Dewani still showed a poor memory and an inability to concentrate, or to go over events connected to his wife's murder, the barrister added. As such, he argued, Dewani was not yet fit to stand trial, but there was sufficient prospect of a full recovery for his extradition to be ordered. It could be argued that the threat of extradition hanging over Dewani was "inhibiting to recovery" and it might actually be better if he was sent to South Africa. Dewani still showed a poor memory and an inability to concentrate or to go over events connected to his wife's murder, the barrister added. As such, he argued, Dewani was not yet fit to stand trial, but the prospect of a full recovery was sufficient for his extradition to be ordered. It could be argued that the threat of extradition hanging over Dewani was "inhibiting to recovery" and it might actually be better if he was sent to South Africa.
Additionally, Keith argued, South African authorities had "pulled out every stop" to cater for Dewani's needs if he were extradited. If kept on remand and still gauged to be ill, Dewani would be treated at the general psychiatric unit at the Valkenburg hospital in Cape Town, he said. If given bail, Dewani could opt to receive treatment there, paid for by the South African government. Additionally, Keith argued, South African authorities had "pulled out every stop" to cater for Dewani's needs if he were extradited. If kept on remand and still considered to be ill, Dewani would be treated at the general psychiatric unit at the Valkenburg hospital in Cape Town, he said. If given bail, Dewani could opt to receive treatment there, paid for by the South African government.
Swedish-born Anni Dewani was found dead in the back of an abandoned car with a bullet wound to her neck the morning after the couple were kidnapped at gunpoint in Gugulethu, a Cape Town township. Her husband said he was freed by the kidnappers. The Swedish-born Anni Dewani was found dead in the back of an abandoned car with a bullet wound to her neck the morning after the couple were kidnapped at gunpoint in Gugulethu, a Cape Town township. Her husband said he was freed by the kidnappers.
Three South African men have been jailed for their part in the killing. Two of them, including the taxi driver who police say Dewani asked to organise the killing, have said the Briton wanted the murder to look like a random carjacking.Three South African men have been jailed for their part in the killing. Two of them, including the taxi driver who police say Dewani asked to organise the killing, have said the Briton wanted the murder to look like a random carjacking.