Thaindian News

London, Feb 9 (ANI): The extradition case for Shrien Dewani, the Brit-Indian millionaire charged with murdering his wife during their honeymoon in Cape Town last year, would reportedly begin on May 3 at Woolwich Crown Court in London.

In absence of Dewani, Judge Riddle told his lawyers that the Indian-origin businessman would be required to attend the next hearing at the City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on March 23, Sky News reports.

Judge Riddle stressed that he had excused Dewani this time not because he is allegedly undergoing ‘acute stress’, but because the case could proceed without him at this point in time.

Dewani’s attorney, Julian Knowles, told the court that the case against extradition would focus on prison conditions in South Africa, and Dewani’s mental and physical condition, and whether or not he would receive a fair trial in that country.

Knowles further said that Dewani’s health problems have made it difficult for him to communicate with his client and take instructions from him.

Dewani has been denying all charges against him, claiming that South African authorities have victimised him in a bid to conceal their country’s sky-high crime rate, and safeguard their tourism industry.

Twenty-eight-year-old Anni was killed on November 13 last year after the taxi she and her husband were travelling in was hijacked as it passed through the Gugulethu township on the outskirts of Cape Town.

Four South Africans have been arrested, with the couple’s taxi driver Zola Tongo sentenced to 18 years for his part in the killing. (ANI)