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Shrien Dewani spends days 'sat in camper van' | Shrien Dewani spends days 'sat in camper van' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A honeymoon murder suspect spends much of his time sitting in a camper van in the grounds of a mental hospital, a court has heard. | A honeymoon murder suspect spends much of his time sitting in a camper van in the grounds of a mental hospital, a court has heard. |
Shrien Dewani faces extradition over charges he arranged his wife Anni's murder on honeymoon in South Africa. | Shrien Dewani faces extradition over charges he arranged his wife Anni's murder on honeymoon in South Africa. |
Dr Ian Cumming told Westminster Magistrates' Court that Mr Dewani would receive mainstream mental health treatment if extradited. | Dr Ian Cumming told Westminster Magistrates' Court that Mr Dewani would receive mainstream mental health treatment if extradited. |
Mr Dewani, who denies murder, has been excused from attending the hearing. | Mr Dewani, who denies murder, has been excused from attending the hearing. |
Dr Cumming, a psychiatrist, told the court he had visited South Africa and had been reassured Mr Dewani would be admitted to a general ward at Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town - and not to a clinical unit where people are sent by the courts. | Dr Cumming, a psychiatrist, told the court he had visited South Africa and had been reassured Mr Dewani would be admitted to a general ward at Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town - and not to a clinical unit where people are sent by the courts. |
He said: "They were going to make an exception for Mr Dewani. He would probably be the first person that they would do that for." | He said: "They were going to make an exception for Mr Dewani. He would probably be the first person that they would do that for." |
Home visits | Home visits |
In a report after visiting the hospital in March this year, Dr Cumming said he had "no qualms about the quality of care". | In a report after visiting the hospital in March this year, Dr Cumming said he had "no qualms about the quality of care". |
He is currently receiving treatment at Blaise View mental health hospital near Bristol. | He is currently receiving treatment at Blaise View mental health hospital near Bristol. |
When he was transferred there in January, Mr Dewani said he felt much better there and described it as a "three star hotel". | When he was transferred there in January, Mr Dewani said he felt much better there and described it as a "three star hotel". |
In March, 24 tablets of the anti-anxiety drug Lorazepam were found in his room - his explanation for the hoard was because he wanted to control his own medication. | In March, 24 tablets of the anti-anxiety drug Lorazepam were found in his room - his explanation for the hoard was because he wanted to control his own medication. |
Dr Cumming said Mr Dewani told him he wanted to fight the murder case. | Dr Cumming said Mr Dewani told him he wanted to fight the murder case. |
The psychiatrist told the court: "He said he didn't think about the case and said 'I'm right, I haven't done anything wrong, the truth will come out. I don't have anything to hide'." | The psychiatrist told the court: "He said he didn't think about the case and said 'I'm right, I haven't done anything wrong, the truth will come out. I don't have anything to hide'." |
Same position | Same position |
But he added that Mr Dewani would not suddenly volunteer to go to South Africa. | But he added that Mr Dewani would not suddenly volunteer to go to South Africa. |
He said: "I think that sometimes pushing patients on towards difficult things may be actually acting in their interests. | He said: "I think that sometimes pushing patients on towards difficult things may be actually acting in their interests. |
"It could well be that in six months or a year's time we have exactly the same position. There's something to be said for getting on with it." | "It could well be that in six months or a year's time we have exactly the same position. There's something to be said for getting on with it." |
He added: "Mr Dewani is not going to wake up one day and suddenly say 'I'm ready to do this'. | He added: "Mr Dewani is not going to wake up one day and suddenly say 'I'm ready to do this'. |
"I just don't think that's going to happen. I think he has got to be edged towards it, and I think the clinicians have a responsibility in that." | "I just don't think that's going to happen. I think he has got to be edged towards it, and I think the clinicians have a responsibility in that." |
Dr Cumming said aside from time spent at the hospital, and inside a camper van in the car park, Mr Dewani was also allowed home visits. | |
He spends six hours at his Bristol home during the week and 12 hours at home at the weekend - unless he has a meeting with staff. | He spends six hours at his Bristol home during the week and 12 hours at home at the weekend - unless he has a meeting with staff. |
Although Mr Dewani is not fit to plead, Hugo Keith, QC for South Africa, said in court on Monday, that this should not stop the extradition process. | Although Mr Dewani is not fit to plead, Hugo Keith, QC for South Africa, said in court on Monday, that this should not stop the extradition process. |
Anni Dewani, 28, was shot when a taxi the couple were travelling in was hijacked in a township on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010. | Anni Dewani, 28, was shot when a taxi the couple were travelling in was hijacked in a township on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010. |
Suicide risk | Suicide risk |
Mr Dewani and driver Zola Tongo were ejected from the car before Mrs Dewani was driven away and killed. | Mr Dewani and driver Zola Tongo were ejected from the car before Mrs Dewani was driven away and killed. |
Mr Dewani, 33, faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and obstructing the administration of justice - all of which he denies. | Mr Dewani, 33, faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and obstructing the administration of justice - all of which he denies. |
His lawyers have previously claimed that he would be a high suicide risk if extradited and that his human rights could be violated, due to the risk of attack and sexual assault, in a South African prison. | His lawyers have previously claimed that he would be a high suicide risk if extradited and that his human rights could be violated, due to the risk of attack and sexual assault, in a South African prison. |
However, reassurances have been offered by the South African government that, if Mr Dewani was found to be ill, he would be admitted to a mental health hospital or remanded in a single jail cell. | However, reassurances have been offered by the South African government that, if Mr Dewani was found to be ill, he would be admitted to a mental health hospital or remanded in a single jail cell. |
Last year South African Xolile Mngeni was convicted of premeditated murder for shooting Mrs Dewani. | Last year South African Xolile Mngeni was convicted of premeditated murder for shooting Mrs Dewani. |
Prosecutors claimed that he was a hitman hired by Mr Dewani to kill his new wife, something that Mr Dewani has consistently denied. | Prosecutors claimed that he was a hitman hired by Mr Dewani to kill his new wife, something that Mr Dewani has consistently denied. |
Tongo was jailed for 18 years after he admitted his part in the crime, and another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, also pleaded guilty to charges over the murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence. | Tongo was jailed for 18 years after he admitted his part in the crime, and another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, also pleaded guilty to charges over the murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence. |