Millionaire accused of ordering hit on new wife in South Africa has bail blocked as her family demand justice
By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 4:42 PM on 8th December 2010
- Businessman is accused of hiring two hitmen to target his wife Anni
- Taxi driver claims Dewani paid £1,400 for her to be kidnapped and killed
- He denies 'ludicrous' allegations and is desperate to clear his name
- Anni's family demand justice and say Dewani should return to South Africa
Shrien Dewani, 30, appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London on an extradition warrant 24 hours after being accused of conspiring to murder his new wife Anni.
Dewani's legal team were told he could be released on bail as long as a surety of £250,000 was produced within two hours.
But the South African authorities lodged an immediate appeal, which means the businessman from Bristol will now be held in custody pending a High Court hearing.
Anni's relatives were in court to see her husband in the dock. Outside, they demanded justice in her name and insisted he should return to South Africa to face trial.
'We want justice for Anni. We want to see justice being done and all the evidence being listened to and a fair trial for Anni,' they said.
'Traumatised': A van believed to contain Shrien Dewani arriving at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court
Distraught: Anni Dewani's cousin outside City of Westminster Magistrates' Court tonight
The millionaire appeared in court after handing himself into police in Bristol last night and spending the night in custody.
He went to police after taxi driver Zola Tongo, who was sentenced in South Africa yesterday for his part in the killing, accused him of ordering her death.
His lawyer Clare Montgomery said in a statement this afternoon said: 'Shrien Dewani had no involvement in the death of his wife Anni.
'He is devastated by her murder and the false allegations that have been made against him and welcomes the chance to clear his name through the courts.'
One of South Africa's most senior politicians - Helen Zille, leader of the country's main opposition party, also insisted today that the Briton 'must be extradited'.
She appeared to believe the South African police’s claim that Dewani arranged the murder of his wife, saying: 'I can't believe there is such evil in the world.'
Referring to the allegation that he employed three South Africans to carry out the ‘hit’ for him, she added: 'This evil appears to have been compounded by the abuse of South Africans.'
Murdered: Shrien Dewani (left) will appear before court today accused of involvement in the death of his wife Anni
'I would prefer to believe a judge than Max Clifford. His comments about South Africa are outrageous. For him to try and tarnish our image enrages every South African. Shrien must be extradited. We must get to the truth of this gruesome murder'
Public relations guru Clifford had this morning told how his client was devastated after his night in the cells and insisted he too only wanted justice.
'All he wants is for the truth to come out and for justice to be done. He knows he is totally innocent,' he said.
Mr Clifford added: 'He's obviously shell-shocked and traumatised after spending a night in custody. It was a nervous night. '
The PR expert insisted the allegations were 'ludicrous' and were the result of a self-confessed murderer striking a plea bargain to reduce his jail sentence.
Dewani appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court, just 24 hours after WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange stood in the same dock to face extradition proceedings.
The Met Police said he was arrested under a warrant issued at the request of the South African authorities.
Mrs Dewani, 28, was shot dead on November 13 after two gunmen ambushed Tongo’s cab near Cape Town as he drove the newlyweds on a tour to see the ‘real Africa’.
After the attack, Mr Dewani told how he was devastated.
But yesterday there were gasps in the public gallery as Cape Town’s High Court heard Tongo’s sensational claim, as public prosecutors outlined a plea bargain by the driver that has seen him jailed for 18 years, reduced from a likely 25 years.
Allegations: Taxi driver Zola Tongo at the South African court yesterday
Tongo covers his face as he awaits the start of his trial for the murder in the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town
‘We would make it appear as if we were the victims of a random armed hijacking of my motor vehicle, committed with a firearm. The hijacking would be simulated.
‘The kidnapping and robbery were part of the plan to make it appear that this was a random criminal act, unconnected to Shrien Dewani.
‘He said he was willing to pay an amount of 15,000 rand (£1,400).’
The taxi driver said he spoke to a friend about arranging a hitman and was put in touch with Xolile Mngeni, 23, and Mziwamadoda Qwabe, 25, whom he met the following day to plot the murder.
He said he then picked up Mr and Mrs Dewani at the hotel that night and took them to some ‘city sights’ and to a restaurant.
‘Prior to entering the restaurant, Shrien Dewani asked me what was happening and said he wanted the job done that night,’ he said.
After the gunmen told him they were ready, he said he took the couple to the prearranged ‘hijack spot’, an intersection in the impoverished Gugulethu township.
The gunmen then approached the stationary taxi, he said, adding: ‘The Dewanis were made to lie down on the back seat and Qwabe drove off.
‘Qwabe travelled for a short distance before he stopped near the police barracks in Gugulethu, where I was ordered to get out of the vehicle.
‘I knew that Mngeni and Qwabe would not harm Shrien Dewani and that he would be dropped off at some further point. I also knew that the deceased would be kidnapped, robbed and murdered by Qwabe and Mngeni.’
Tongo claimed he sent a text message to Mr Dewani as they drove through Cape Town, reminding him not to forget about the money.
A reply allegedly informed him this was stashed in an envelope behind the front passenger seat.
Tongo stood with his eyes lowered and shielding his face from cameras during the hearing, speaking only to confirm that he understood the confession.
Mrs Dewani’s father Vinod Hindocha, 61, who lives in Sweden, sat in court sobbing and clutching a photo of her as the allegations against his son-in-law were read.
Vinod Hindocha Dewani, Anni's father, wept in the court as he clutched a photo of his murdered daughter
Zola Tongo hid his face as he was lead up from the holding cells to attend the court session, in which the prosecutor claimed Shrien Dewani paid the cab driver to murder his wife Anni on the pair's South African honeymoon
Mngeni, 23, and Qwabe, 25, will remain in custody until February, when they will face charges of murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping.
Mr Clifford said yesterday that the allegations which should be treated with ‘contempt’.
He said: ‘Shrien is totally innocent of any involvement in this heinous crime. These allegations are totally ludicrous and very hurtful to a young man who is grieving the loss of the woman he loved, his chosen life partner.
‘South African police have never sought to speak to Shrien regarding the allegations. Instead, two weeks have been spent negotiating this confession from the taxi driver while the two others accused have complained of torture and false confessions.’
The car in which Anni Dewani was found murdered is towed from the crime scene last month
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1336695/Honeymoon-murder-Shrien-Dewani-arrested-1k-hit-new-bride-Anni.html#ixzz17XcfFLq8
