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South Africa
South African police face questions over handling of honeymoon murder
Questions have been raised over the police handling of the honeymoon murder of Anni Dewani in Cape Town as three men suspected of involvement in the killing are due to appear in court.
Anni and Shrien Dewani with their family on their wedding day Photo: SWNS
The newlywed woman's father has questioned why her husband was allowed to leave the country with her body just four days after the incident and why police did not conduct a second post-mortem examination.
Vinod Hindocha also wants to know why his son-in-law Shrien Dewani has not returned to South Africa to identify the three suspects in the carjacking and subsequent murder, on Saturday November 13.
"At the moment I have so many questions," he said. "There are so many conflicting stories. I just want straight answers and I'm not getting them."
For his part, Mr Dewani has criticised the police for refusing to clarify whether or not he is a suspect. Max Clifford, representing millionaire businessman Mr Dewani, 30, from Bristol, challenged South African officers to make a formal statement on the matter.
"If the police have something to say we would like them to come out and say it," he said. "Shrien has legal representation and if something is put on the record he can act to clear his name."
Speaking on November 19, South Africa's national police commander Bheki Cele said that neither Mr Dewani nor the taxi driver who drove the couple into the Cape township where they were carjacked, were suspects.
The taxi driver has since been charged with kidnap, aggravated robbery, and murder but police continue to allow rumours to swirl about Mr Dewani's involvement without clarification.
It had been thought the mystery over what police believe happened that night whould be cleared up this morning when the taxi driver, Zola Tongo, appears in court with two other men charged with murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery. However sources have suggested that the revelations may be postponed further.
The Dewanis had been in Cape Town just a matter of days when their car was stopped at gunpoint in Gugulethu township by two men who forced their driver out before taking off with them still in the back.
Mr Dewani told how he was driven for 40 minutes before being forced out unharmed. His wife's body was found in the abandoned car's back seat the following morning. She had been shot in the neck, chest and hand.
Unconfirmed reports in South Africa suggest that police are also looking for a fourth suspect, a 31-year-old member of staff at a luxury hotel, who they believe may have introduced Mr Dewani to the taxi driver.
There are claims in South Africa's Sunday Times that the "lead investigator" in the police team working on the carjacking and Miss Dewani's murder has been moved from the case. If true, police sources said it could severely compromise the investigation at a crucial juncture.
It has also emerged that British authorities are now helping the South Africans with their enquiries, although a spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) declined to reveal the nature of the help being provided.
"We are in touch with the police in their investigations but cannot comment further because this is an ongoing legal process," she said.
South African Police have, once again, declined to confirm or deny any reports. Col Andre Traut, a South African Police press officer, said: "If you're phoning about the Dewani case, I'm not going to answer any questions about it."
According to British policing experts, the South African police's information blackout policy is a mistake and will extend the ordeal of the families involved.
"A lack of transparency will only lead people to jump to conclusions. The British police have learned that while you of course have to protect the integrity of your investigation, it is necessary to work with the media," said Mark Williams-Thomas, a criminologist and former detective.
"The media is absolutely key to any major investigation because it represents the public and it's not the police that solve crimes, it's the public.
"If Mr Dewani is not a suspect, it would be helpful for them to confirm that at this stage. A failure to do so only leads to speculation and upset for all concerned."
COMMENT: Mark William-Thomas also gave 'his advice' on the McCann case, what he had to say , not worth the paper it was written on.
"If the police have something to say we would like them to come out and say it," he said. "Shrien has legal representation and if something is put on the record he can act to clear his name."
Speaking on November 19, South Africa's national police commander Bheki Cele said that neither Mr Dewani nor the taxi driver who drove the couple into the Cape township where they were carjacked, were suspects.
The taxi driver has since been charged with kidnap, aggravated robbery, and murder but police continue to allow rumours to swirl about Mr Dewani's involvement without clarification.
It had been thought the mystery over what police believe happened that night whould be cleared up this morning when the taxi driver, Zola Tongo, appears in court with two other men charged with murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery. However sources have suggested that the revelations may be postponed further.
The Dewanis had been in Cape Town just a matter of days when their car was stopped at gunpoint in Gugulethu township by two men who forced their driver out before taking off with them still in the back.
Mr Dewani told how he was driven for 40 minutes before being forced out unharmed. His wife's body was found in the abandoned car's back seat the following morning. She had been shot in the neck, chest and hand.
Unconfirmed reports in South Africa suggest that police are also looking for a fourth suspect, a 31-year-old member of staff at a luxury hotel, who they believe may have introduced Mr Dewani to the taxi driver.
There are claims in South Africa's Sunday Times that the "lead investigator" in the police team working on the carjacking and Miss Dewani's murder has been moved from the case. If true, police sources said it could severely compromise the investigation at a crucial juncture.
It has also emerged that British authorities are now helping the South Africans with their enquiries, although a spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) declined to reveal the nature of the help being provided.
"We are in touch with the police in their investigations but cannot comment further because this is an ongoing legal process," she said.
South African Police have, once again, declined to confirm or deny any reports. Col Andre Traut, a South African Police press officer, said: "If you're phoning about the Dewani case, I'm not going to answer any questions about it."
According to British policing experts, the South African police's information blackout policy is a mistake and will extend the ordeal of the families involved.
"A lack of transparency will only lead people to jump to conclusions. The British police have learned that while you of course have to protect the integrity of your investigation, it is necessary to work with the media," said Mark Williams-Thomas, a criminologist and former detective.
"The media is absolutely key to any major investigation because it represents the public and it's not the police that solve crimes, it's the public.
"If Mr Dewani is not a suspect, it would be helpful for them to confirm that at this stage. A failure to do so only leads to speculation and upset for all concerned."
COMMENT: Mark William-Thomas also gave 'his advice' on the McCann case, what he had to say , not worth the paper it was written on.
