Police link honeymoon murder of Anni Dewani to 2007 killing
The case against Shrien Dewani, the British millionaire arrested on suspicion of having his wife killed on honeymoon, has taken a dramatic new twist after South Africa's police chief linked him to another murder three years ago.
Mr Dewani, 30, denied any involvement in a second killing. His spokesman branded the latest claim a fabrication, amid fears the businessman has become the victim of a politically-motivated smear to protect South Africa's tourism industry.
General Bheki Cele, the South African National Commissioner, told reporters that his force was investigating a possible link between Mr Dewani and the murder in 2007 of Dr Pox Raghavjee.
Mr Dewani, from Bristol, faces extradition to South Africa after his wife Anni, 28, was shot during their honeymoon in Cape Town last month. Police claim Mr Dewani paid two hit-men to kill his bride in a sham carjacking, although the motive remains unclear.
Dr Raghavjee was also murdered in a carjacking near his home in King William's Town, 650 miles from Cape Town. Police at the time ruled out robbery as a motive because neither his car nor valuables were taken.
Following the murder of Mrs Dewani, Heather Raghavjee, the doctor's widow, flew to Cape Town to offer comfort to Mr Dewani and his father Prakash. Police appear to have seized upon this as they attempt to build a case against Mr Dewani.
Max Clifford, who has been hired as Mr Dewani's spokesman, said yesterday: "The South African police are orchestrating a politically-motivated smear campaign to protect their tourism industry. It's a total fabrication. How flimsy and ridiculous this whole thing is. If it wasn't so tragic it would be a farce, a comedy."
Mr Clifford said Mrs Raghavjee had never met Mr Dewani prior to the honeymoon murder, and had made the journey to Cape Town only at the request of her daughter-in-law, Alvita Raghavjee, who lives in the Bristol area and knows the Dewani family.
He insisted that Mr Dewani, released from prison last week after a High Court hearing on £250,000 bail, had never previously travelled to South Africa until his honeymoon, and that his passport proved that. He is now "petrified" of being forced to return to South Africa where he is convinced he will not receive a fair trial. Mr Dewani has not been charged with any offence.
Mr Dewani, who runs a care home, has been implicated by Zola Tongo, the taxi driver who drove the newly-weds to the township of Gugulethu, where they were carjacked. Tongo was jailed for 18 years last week for arranging the murder. His sentence was reduced from 25 years after he entered a plea bargain in which he accused Mr Dewani of instigating the killing.
Mrs Dewani was found dead in the back of Tongo's abandoned taxi with a single bullet wound to her neck on Nov 13. Mr Dewani and Tongo escaped unscathed.
Heather Raghavjee confirmed on Saturday she had visited the grieving Dewanis in Cape Town because she felt she could offer them support. She said: "We went through a lot when my husband was murdered and we asked the question 'Why us?'. But I got a lot of support from family members and people from all walks of life. We came to Cape Town to give support to the widower and his parents."
Gen Cele has already sparked controversy in the case, calling Mr Dewani a "monkey". He is a career ANC politician, who had no policing experience prior to being appointed National Commissioner when his predecessor was charged with corruption.
General Cele's spokesman said on Saturday: "The investigation is ongoing even if it means linking Mr Dewani to other cases."
She confirmed a report that the Commissioner had said police were investigating a link between Mr Dewani and a murder in Eastern Cape province three years ago. The Commissioner told South African TV: "We are continuing investigations. There are new revelations about the Eastern Cape, so let's see what's going on."
Captain Thozama Solani, King William's Town police spokesman, confirmed that Dr Raghavjee's case was being looked at afresh.
"We can confirm that the investigations are on again in the case," said Capt Solani.
Despite the police chief's prejudicial comments, Jeff Radebe, South Africa's Justice Minister, yesterday insisted that Mr Dewani would receive a fair trial in the country.
Mr Radebe said: "Our courts jealously uphold and enforce the Constitution, including the accused's rights. It is thus simply untrue to suggest that Shrien Dewani will not get a fair trial, should our extradition request to the United Kingdom succeed."
Following the murder of Mrs Dewani, Heather Raghavjee, the doctor's widow, flew to Cape Town to offer comfort to Mr Dewani and his father Prakash. Police appear to have seized upon this as they attempt to build a case against Mr Dewani.
Max Clifford, who has been hired as Mr Dewani's spokesman, said yesterday: "The South African police are orchestrating a politically-motivated smear campaign to protect their tourism industry. It's a total fabrication. How flimsy and ridiculous this whole thing is. If it wasn't so tragic it would be a farce, a comedy."
Mr Clifford said Mrs Raghavjee had never met Mr Dewani prior to the honeymoon murder, and had made the journey to Cape Town only at the request of her daughter-in-law, Alvita Raghavjee, who lives in the Bristol area and knows the Dewani family.
He insisted that Mr Dewani, released from prison last week after a High Court hearing on £250,000 bail, had never previously travelled to South Africa until his honeymoon, and that his passport proved that. He is now "petrified" of being forced to return to South Africa where he is convinced he will not receive a fair trial. Mr Dewani has not been charged with any offence.
Mr Dewani, who runs a care home, has been implicated by Zola Tongo, the taxi driver who drove the newly-weds to the township of Gugulethu, where they were carjacked. Tongo was jailed for 18 years last week for arranging the murder. His sentence was reduced from 25 years after he entered a plea bargain in which he accused Mr Dewani of instigating the killing.
Mrs Dewani was found dead in the back of Tongo's abandoned taxi with a single bullet wound to her neck on Nov 13. Mr Dewani and Tongo escaped unscathed.
Heather Raghavjee confirmed on Saturday she had visited the grieving Dewanis in Cape Town because she felt she could offer them support. She said: "We went through a lot when my husband was murdered and we asked the question 'Why us?'. But I got a lot of support from family members and people from all walks of life. We came to Cape Town to give support to the widower and his parents."
Gen Cele has already sparked controversy in the case, calling Mr Dewani a "monkey". He is a career ANC politician, who had no policing experience prior to being appointed National Commissioner when his predecessor was charged with corruption.
General Cele's spokesman said on Saturday: "The investigation is ongoing even if it means linking Mr Dewani to other cases."
She confirmed a report that the Commissioner had said police were investigating a link between Mr Dewani and a murder in Eastern Cape province three years ago. The Commissioner told South African TV: "We are continuing investigations. There are new revelations about the Eastern Cape, so let's see what's going on."
Captain Thozama Solani, King William's Town police spokesman, confirmed that Dr Raghavjee's case was being looked at afresh.
"We can confirm that the investigations are on again in the case," said Capt Solani.
Despite the police chief's prejudicial comments, Jeff Radebe, South Africa's Justice Minister, yesterday insisted that Mr Dewani would receive a fair trial in the country.
Mr Radebe said: "Our courts jealously uphold and enforce the Constitution, including the accused's rights. It is thus simply untrue to suggest that Shrien Dewani will not get a fair trial, should our extradition request to the United Kingdom succeed."
