Shrien Dewani extradition: Anni’s family seeks ‘closure’ as hearing ends

Shrien Dewani’s in-laws say 31-year-old will get a fair trial in South Africa, where he is accused of arranging wife’s murder The family of Anni Dewani, who was murdered on her honeymoon in South Africa, told how they wanted “closure” as extradition proceedings against her husband, Shrien, drew to a conclusion. Howard Riddle, the district judge at the extradition hearing before Westminster magistrates at Woolwich crown court, south-east London, retired to consider whether Shrien Dewani, 31, should be sent back to South Africa to face trial for allegedly arranging his wife’s death. Dewani’s lawyers deny that he had any involvement in the killing and say he is too ill to be extradited. They say his human rights will be infringed if he is sent back to South Africa because of jail conditions. Outside court at the end of the hearing, Anni’s uncle, Ashok Hindocha, said the family believed Dewani could get a “fair trial” in Cape Town. He said: “We do believe it will be a fair extradition process here in England and a fair trial in South Africa. This should be a matter of justice and only justice. How long it takes, God knows, but the sooner the better for the whole family. The enormous support we have from the British people and South African people gives us energy.” Anni’s father, Vinod Hindocha, 62, who with other family members attended the hearing, said: “We’re really asking the court: ‘Finish this, get us a closure so that we can move along with our lives.’” Anni Dewani, 28, was shot dead in what South African police allege was a fake car-jacking organised by her husband. Shrien Dewani has severe post traumatic stress disorder and is being treated at a psychiatric hospital in Bristol. About 20 members of Anni’s family, from the UK and Sweden, have been in court to watch the extradition hearing. In his final submissions Hugo Keith QC, for the South African authorities, said it was ridiculous to think Dewani would be neglected if extradited. “No one can suggest the South African authorities would receive an evidently ill man and say: ‘We don’t care, let him rot, he won’t get treatment.’ It cannot be said that South Africa, a civilised and in many respects modern country, does not have the ability to sufficiently cope with the illnesses he suffers.” He said it was likely that Dewani would not be judged fit to stand trial now if he were extradited, but that he might be fit to do so in the future. If he was considered to be ill when he arrived in South Africa he would be treated in a psychiatric hospital, the Valkenberg in Cape Town. Clare Montgomery QC, for Dewani, called for the extradition to be postponed until her client was “a more stable mental state”. She said: “If he is going to get better he will get better quicker here and then he can be extradited.” The judge will decide on 10 August if Dewani should be extradited. Dewani murder case South Africa Extradition Steven Morris guardian.co.uk

Posted by on July 21, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.