Relatives of Shrien Dewani have expressed just how torn apart he was following "ridiculous" allegations that he had been party to the murder of his young bride by masterminding a plot to get rid of her while they were on honeymoon in South Africa.
Associated press reports that family members spoke out after the businessman was subjected to a stream of slurs following the brutal murder.
Associated press reports that family members spoke out after the businessman was subjected to a stream of slurs following the brutal murder.
He has been accused of allegedly paying her killers to do the job and now a German male prostitute is claiming to have slept with him a number of times and receiving payment from him.
Mr Dewani's family and supporters also insisted he has been scapegoated by South African authorities who are anxious to protect the country's tourism industry, describing the police case against him as "flimsy" and "flawed".
Speaking to the Independent newspaper, a close relative said: "Shrien is torn apart by it all. He has been robbed of the love of his life and is grieving, and now he must deal with all these ridiculous allegations."
Relatives and friends denied the widower fled South Africa to deny justice and claimed he had been painted in an "inaccurate" and biased light by the world's media.
They also pointed to claims by a lawyer acting for the two men accused of the murder that his clients were "tortured by police" before signing confessions.
Care home owner Mr Dewani, 30, believes the murder allegations are based on evidence from men "who have everything to win and nothing to lose from inventing a story", according to his supporters.
His lawyers are planning legal action against those responsible for spreading allegations he had homosexual liaisons with a German rent boy, they said.
Mr Dewani is also said to be frustrated that the media could not talk openly to his family due to legal constraints.
A video of the couple's Hindu wedding ceremony, in which they are seen singing Bollywood love film lyrics to each other, was released on Saturday by relatives, adding to their claims that Mr Dewani was "deeply in love" with his Swedish-born wife.
