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Shrien Dewani trial: murdered bride’s brother urges judge not to stop case Shrien Dewani trial: murdered bride’s brother urges judge not to stop case
(about 1 hour later)
The brother of murdered bride Anni Dewani has begged the judge in the trial of her husband, Shrien Dewani, to allow the British businessman’s court case to continue so the world “can hear the full story”.The brother of murdered bride Anni Dewani has begged the judge in the trial of her husband, Shrien Dewani, to allow the British businessman’s court case to continue so the world “can hear the full story”.
In an emotional appeal for justice, Anish Hindocha on Wednesday urged South African trial judge Jeanette Traverso not to discharge the murder case early for lack of evidence.In an emotional appeal for justice, Anish Hindocha on Wednesday urged South African trial judge Jeanette Traverso not to discharge the murder case early for lack of evidence.
Any failure to allow the case to continue, Hindocha said, would result in “Anni’s death remain[ing] on the conscience of South Africa forever”.Any failure to allow the case to continue, Hindocha said, would result in “Anni’s death remain[ing] on the conscience of South Africa forever”.
Having finished presenting its case two weeks ago, the prosecution has been widely criticised as being so poor that Traverso is legally obliged to discharge.Having finished presenting its case two weeks ago, the prosecution has been widely criticised as being so poor that Traverso is legally obliged to discharge.
But on Wednesday morning, Anni’s younger brother asked the judge to force Shrien Dewani to explain his actions. “Please allow us the opportunity to demand justice for our sister”, he said.But on Wednesday morning, Anni’s younger brother asked the judge to force Shrien Dewani to explain his actions. “Please allow us the opportunity to demand justice for our sister”, he said.
“Please allow us the full story. We don’t want to return to Sweden or the UK and feel as if we did not get a proper and fair trial in South Africa.“Please allow us the full story. We don’t want to return to Sweden or the UK and feel as if we did not get a proper and fair trial in South Africa.
“My message is simple, don’t let Shrien Dewani walk away without giving us, South Africa and people all over the world the full story. Let the law take its full and proper course.”“My message is simple, don’t let Shrien Dewani walk away without giving us, South Africa and people all over the world the full story. Let the law take its full and proper course.”
Flanked by three male cousins, Anish Hindocha spoke emotionally of how the years since Anni’s 2010 death in a Cape Town taxi hijacking have taken a heavy toll on his family. Flanked by three male cousins, Anish Hindocha spoke emotionally of how Anni’s death in a taxi hijacking in Cape Town in 2010 had taken a heavy toll on his family.
“We have been promised [the truth] for four painful years, which has been devastating for our lives”, Hindocha said. “I worry about my parents’ health and they need this closure. They can barely sleep at night. I beg for this.”“We have been promised [the truth] for four painful years, which has been devastating for our lives”, Hindocha said. “I worry about my parents’ health and they need this closure. They can barely sleep at night. I beg for this.”
On the first day of his murder trial, Shrien Dewani handed into court a 37-page ‘plea explanation’ document in which he gave a written account of his actions before, during and after his wife’s death but Hindocha claimed this was not enough. On the first day of his murder trial, Shrien Dewani handed into court a 37-page “plea explanation” document in which he gave a written account of his actions before, during and after his wife’s death. But Hindocha said this was not enough.
“If we are not given the full facts, by which I mean Shrien Dewani telling the court his full version, then Anni’s death will remain on the conscience of South Africa for ever”, he said. “It will also mean a lifetime of torture for me and my family, especially my Mum and Dad.” “If we are not given the full facts, by which I mean Shrien Dewani telling the court his full version, then Anni’s death will remain on the conscience of South Africa forever,” he said. “It will also mean a lifetime of torture for me and my family, especially my mum and dad.”
Anni’s Swedish family have attended almost every day of Shrien Dewani’s eight-week trial. Before the trial began in October, they expressed their confidence in South Africa’s judicial system and said they would not comment publicly on the trial as it progressed.Anni’s Swedish family have attended almost every day of Shrien Dewani’s eight-week trial. Before the trial began in October, they expressed their confidence in South Africa’s judicial system and said they would not comment publicly on the trial as it progressed.
Traverso, who is the second most senior judge in Cape Town, is due to announce her decision on whether or not to throw out the case next Monday (8 December).Traverso, who is the second most senior judge in Cape Town, is due to announce her decision on whether or not to throw out the case next Monday (8 December).
Hindocha said: “As a brother I fully expect the South African trial against Shrien Dewani to continue on 8 December and for his application for discharge to be rejected. It would be a terrible development in what has been a four-year wait if we and the people of South Africa are not afforded a full story.Hindocha said: “As a brother I fully expect the South African trial against Shrien Dewani to continue on 8 December and for his application for discharge to be rejected. It would be a terrible development in what has been a four-year wait if we and the people of South Africa are not afforded a full story.
“Shrien Dewani has insisted all along that he wants to clear his name and has told the court, through his lawyer, since the trial began, dozens of times, that he would help the court with his own version of event. “Shrien Dewani has insisted all along that he wants to clear his name and has told the court, through his lawyer, since the trial began, dozens of times, that he would help the court with his own version of event. The phrase ‘my client will tell the court’ has become like a mantra to the judge and to the media who have been at the Western Cape high court.
“The phrase ‘my client will tell the court’ has become like a mantra to the judge and to the media who have been at the Western Cape high court. “Let’s have him tell us that. This has been his pledge throughout the trial and it would be wrong for him to walk away from South Africa without explaining himself of what happened on the night when my sister got murdered.”
“Let’s have him tell us that. This has been his pledge throughout the trial and it would be wrong for him, to walk away from South Africa without explaining himself of what happened on the night when my sister got murdered.” Hindocha said his family had nothing to do with a 2,551-name internet petition that seeks to have Traverso dismissed from the case for alleged bias.
Hindocha said his family had “nothing to do” with a 2,551-name internet petition that seeks to have Traverso dismissed from the case for alleged “bias”. Hindocha also said it was not the right time to discuss his father Vinod’s reported plan to try to sue Shrien Dewani in Britain for failing to declare his bisexuality before his marriage.
Hindocha also claimed it was “not the right time” to discuss his father Vinod’s reported plan to try to sue Shrien Dewani in Britain for failing to declare his bisexuality ahead of his marriage. Vinod Hindocha, who has said he is not homophobic, was this week quoted as telling MailOnline: “That man never told us he was bisexual and that he slept with male prostitutes. Which father in the world, including me, would allow their daughter to marry a person who sleeps with men? I don’t think anybody would.
Vinod Hindocha, who has said he is not homophobic, was earlier this week quoted as telling MailOnline: “That man never told us he was bisexual and that he slept with male prostitutes.
“Which father in the world, including me, would allow their daughter to marry a person who sleeps with men? I don’t think anybody would.”
“The whole wedding was a drama, was false, and I’m going to sue him for that, not for money but for the loss of my daughter.”“The whole wedding was a drama, was false, and I’m going to sue him for that, not for money but for the loss of my daughter.”
Of the alleged planned law suit, Anish Hindocha said on Wednesday: “Our motive has never been financial, we just demand the truth. And we do that with heavy hearts, after such a long time”. Anish Hindocha said on Wednesday: “Our motive has never been financial, we just demand the truth. And we do that with heavy hearts, after such a long time.”
Shrien Dewani, 34, is accused of masterminding the murder of his wife Anni, then 28, in a township taxi hijacking in Cape Town on 13 November 2010. South Africa’s National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has conceded that the “fulcrum” of its case is the witness evidence of the taxi driver Zola Tongo, a self-confessed killer and liar who testified as part of a plea bargain arrangement by which he received time off his prison sentence.
South Africa’s National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has conceded that the “fulcrum” of its case is the witness evidence of taxi driver Zola Tongo, a self-confessed killer and liar who testified as part of a plea bargain arrangement by which he received time off his prison sentence. The alleged weaknesses in the prosecution witness evidence have been exploited by Dewani’s barrister, Francois van Zyl, who, in his application for the case to be thrown out of court described the state’s case as “a cesspit of contradictions”.
The alleged weaknesses in the prosecution witness evidence have been exploited by Dewani’s barrister, Francois van Zyl, who, in his application for the case to be thrown out of court, described the state’s case as “a cesspit of contradictions”. Legal experts said there was no legal mechanism in South African law that could force a defendant to give oral evidence.
Legal experts on Wednesday said there is no legal mechanism in South African law that can force a defendant to give oral evidence. Even if Traverso ruled that Dewani’s trial should continue on Monday, they said, Shrien Dewani was entitled not to give evidence under his constitutional right to silence.
Even if Traverso rules that Dewani’s trial should continue on Monday, they said, Shrien Dewani is entitled not to give evidence under his constitutional right to silence. Shrien Dewani denies involvement in any plot to murder his wife. The case continues.
Shrien Dewani denies all involvement in any plot to murder his wife. The case continues.