Dewani Remains in the UK - For Now

(Posted on 09/02/11)

One UK solicitor has his hands full these days. Julian Knowles, hired to defend Shrien Dewani against charges of hiring hitmen to kill his new bride, appeared in court today to announce his client was "too ill" to be in court and that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Married for only weeks, Shrien Dewani, the handsome and seemingly wealthy UK businessman, and his new bride, Anni, who was a beautiful model, had chosen South Africa as their honeymoon get-away. Anni had grown up in Sweden while Shrien was raised in the UK. They met in late 2009, were engaged less than six months later and were then married before 2010 came to a close. Unfortunately, just two days after arriving in South Africa for an extended honeymoon, they found themselves in a nightmare.

Anni, who no doubt thought this was the beginning of an incredible new life with her new husband, is now dead, after being beaten unmercifully. Her murder includes those dynamics that are powerful enough to keep people around the world focused and interested; unfortunately, it doesn't appear answers will be coming any time in the near future. For a grieving family that cannot understand why, the days that continue to pass with no answers are as tragic as the death itself.

It began when a cab driver, who interestingly was the same driver who'd picked the couple up when they arrived in the country, agreed to take them on a "slum tour". After having dinner, they were taking in the country as a whole. Before long, their tour was interrupted by hijackers who tossed the driver, Zola Tongo, out of the cab and later tossed Dewani out as well. The cab was found hours later with Anni's body in the back.

In quick time, law enforcement learned Tongo was part of the murder-for-hire plot. They also garnered the names of the other two men who'd hijacked the taxi. During weeks of questioning and the first trial, a story emerged that placed Dewani in police cross hairs. Why would Dewani want his new bride murdered?

Dewani, who returned to the UK following the murder, has denied accusations that he ordered the hit and said he had no motive. Reports now, however, say he might have had more than six million reasons: the family business was sinking faster than the Titanic. A life insurance policy could easily solve all the financial problems Dewani had been shouldering. Whether or not that's true, there are baffling questions and bizarre scenarios that must be taken into consideration. Now, though, it looks as though those answers won't be found anytime soon. His lawyer said today after a hearing at Belmarsh Magistrates Court that Dewani simply couldn't attend due to "severe" levels of stress; his former father-in-law says it's more likely he's trying to avoid being extradited back to South Africa to face charges.