Dewani Appeals Extradition

(Posted on 20/10/11)

Late last month, Shrien Dewani, the man accused of killing his bride on their honeymoon in South Africa last November, was ordered to return to the country to stand trial for that murder.
The couple were engaged in the summer of 2010 and by October, Dewani and his soon-to-be bride, Anni, were preparing to walk down the aisle in an impressive three day event in India. The wedding was said to have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Guests spoke of how beautiful the ceremony was and how much in love the couple were. Instead of leaving for their honeymoon immediately following the wedding, the couple flew back to Bristol, where they had bought a home.
A week later, on November 7, the couple left for South Africa. Days later, the couple were preparing to take a tour following dinner. The same driver that picked them up from the airport when they arrived in the country is the one who would be their tour guide. That tour took a tragic turn when it was hijacked. The cab driver was kicked out of the car first, followed by Dewani a few miles later. Sometime after midnight, the abandoned cab was found with Anni Dewani’s body in the back seat, riddled with gunshots.
Soon, law enforcement had made several arrests, including the cab driver and the two hijackers. Meanwhile, Dewani had hired a well-known criminal attorney in anticipation of facing his own arrest. Before long, Dewani’s solicitor had resigned and cited attorney client privilege when he refused to speak to the media.
Back in the UK, Dewani’s new solicitors have managed to delay hearings and hold up the process in general by citing Dewani’s admittance into a psychiatric unit. They argued he was unable to stand trial.
On September 26, Home Secretary Ms Theresa May announced the extradition would be allowed after "careful consideration of all relevant matters". Dewani had 14 days under British law to file an appeal. His solicitors did so immediately.
It could be several months before the appeal is addressed. In the meantime, Dewani continues is insistence that he’s mentally incapable of standing trial in South Africa.