Shrien Dewani, accused of hiring hit men to kill
his wife, leaves a court in London in March 2011.
A British man accused of orchestrating his
wife's murder by hit men while they were on honeymoon in South Africa should be
extradited to face trial, a London court ruled Wednesday.
Shrien Dewani's appeal was
dismissed by Judge Howard Riddle, paving the way for extradition, said an
official at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
Dewani is accused
of hiring a crew of hit men to kill his wife, Anni Dewani, 28, during a taxi
ride in Cape Town in 2010.
Taxi driver Zola Tongo confessed
within weeks of Anni Dewani's death that he had hired two men to kill her.
In a plea deal with South African
authorities, he said he was paid by Shrien Dewani to carry out the hit and to
make it look like the two were the victims of a car hijacking as they were
driving through a township on the edge of Cape Town. Tongo was subsequently
sentenced to 18 years in prison for his part in the killing.
Speaking outside the court
Wednesday, Anni Dewani's sister, who did not give her name, said the family was
satisfied by the ruling, but it was just one step in the battle to find
answers.
"We don't want to forget Anni in
this -- for us it's all about Anni, it's all about finding out what happened to
her," she said. "We will fight this battle to the end, and this battle has just
begun for us."
The ongoing case has been hard on
her family, she said. "Look at my mum, look at my dad -- they are struggling
every day with this. They have lost a daughter."
Ashok Hindocha, the victim's
uncle, told newsmen the extradition decision is a relief.
"We want to know what happened.
Our view on this is quite simple. There were five people in the car, four men,
one lady. She was murdered," he said.
"Three of the people in the car
have confessed that that they were involved and they are also in jail now for
their part in this incident. Shrien is the only one who hasn't spoken. We want
to know why. Why did a beautiful girl on her honeymoon have to die, to be
killed, brutally murdered?"
Dewani's legal team may still
seek to appeal Wednesday's ruling.
The businessman, from Bristol in
southwest England, has said his wife was the victim of a carjacking and denies
any involvement in the killing.
His extradition was halted last
year on mental health grounds.
Psychiatric experts told a UK
court last year that Dewani was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder
and depression and that he'd tried to take his life.
'Fair
trial'
South African Justice Minister
Jeff Radebe welcomed Wednesday's extradition ruling, saying it reaffirms the
view that South Africa's legal system is fair and upholds the rule of law.
"We are also pleased that at
last Mr. Dewani will stand trial for the alleged murder that induced a sense of
shock and outrage -- national as well as around the world," he said in a
statement.
"We guarantee him and the entire
world that he will indeed receive a fair trial."
Radebe said the ruling is also a
vote of confidence in the ability of Valkenberg Hospital, a psychiatric hospital
in Cape Town, and the correctional services to ensure Dewani is
cared for in South Africa.
But he said the ruling would not
mean that Dewani would immediately be returned to South Africa, since he has
further legal avenues to explore. If successful, they could lead to a further
appeal in the UK courts.
Dewani's attorneys argued last
year at the High Court in London that extradition to South Africa would breach
his human rights under European law.
Their appeal cited concerns over
the effect of extradition on his mental illness, the provision of facilities for
its treatment and the risk of attack and sexual violence from other inmates.
