A British newlywed accused of hiring a hitman to kill his bride on their South African honeymoon has denied he was involved in another murder three years earlier. Skip related content
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Newlywed accused 'linked to murder' South African National Commissioner General Bheki Cele told reporters police are investigating a link between wealthy businessman Shrien Dewani and the 2007 murder of Dr Pox Raghavjee.
Publicist Max Clifford, who represents Dewani, dismissed the possibility his client was implicated in either murder.He said the doctor's widow, Heather Raghavjee, had travelled from King's William Town to Cape Town to comfort Dewani after the murder.
Mr Dewani, 30, was released from Wandsworth Prison on bail after his family came up with £250,000 security. He is wanted by South African police for conspiracy to murder his new wife Anni, 28, who was killed during a carjacking. Dr Raghavjee also died during a carjacking but the case reportedly remains open.
Taxi driver Zola Tongo accused Mr Dewani of offering to pay 15,000 rand (£1,400) for his wife's murder and ordering it to appear like a bungled carjacking as they drove through the notorious township of Gugulethu.
Tongo's allegation formed part of a plea agreement drawn up with prosecutors at Western Cape High Court where he was jailed for 18 years earlier this week for his part in the killing. Tongo has also alleged that Dewani told him he had arranged a murder in a fake hijacking in South Africa before.
Mr Clifford said: "Heather Raghavjee flew from King's William Town in South Africa to Cape Town to try to comfort the family at the request of her daughter-in-law Alvita, who lives in the Bristol area and knew the Dewani family. She had never met Shrien before in her life. But she experienced what he experienced when her husband, Dr Pox Raghavjee, was shot dead in a carjacking three years earlier."
The national commissioner has previously been criticised for describing Dewani as a "monkey". His spokeswoman said: "The investigation is ongoing even if it means linking Mr Dewani to other cases."
Mr Dewani, a care-home owner from Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, was granted bail and now faces electronic tagging, home curfew and having to report daily to the police pending further extradition hearings.
Heather met with Shirens family last December....
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