London: The man accused of ordering the killing of his wife on their honeymoon will be extradited to South Africa to face trial over his wife's death.
According to the Daily Mail report, Shrien Dewani, 33, is suspected of ordering the killing of his new wife Anni, 28, who was shot as the couple travelled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010.
Lawyers acting for the honeymoon murder suspect intend to appeal against today's ruling that he should be extradited to South Africa to face trial over his wife's death, a spokesman for his family said today.
Today at Westminster Magistrates’ Court he lost his extradition battle as Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle decided Dewani should return to the country.
Chief Magistrate Riddle told Westminster Magistrates' Court that Dewani should return to the country, despite arguments by his defence team that he could suffer setbacks in his mental health if sent back now.
They argued that the decision should be delayed by six months.The businessman has been receiving treatment for depression and post traumatic stress disorder at mental hospitals near Bristol since his wife’s death.
But prosecutors claim that it would not be 'oppressive' to extradite the businessman to face trial, and that there has been a 'significant and sustained improvement' in his mental health in recent months.
Hugo Keith QC, for the South African government, admitted that he is currently not fit to plead, but argued that this should not stop the extradition process.
During a full extradition hearing earlier this month, Professor Nigel Eastman said that extraditing Dewani could worsen his condition.'If he goes now, he will be in a poorer state than if he goes in six months’ time,' he said.
'If he goes to South Africa and does not improve, he is at risk of being chronically ill and chronically unfit to plead.'
It emerged during the four-day hearing that while resident at Fromeside and Blaise View mental health units Dewani was allowed to walk home every day, and a camper van was set up in the grounds where he would spend long periods of time.
District Judge Riddle ruled in 2011 that Dewani should be sent back to South Africa, but this was successfully appealed against and he was ordered to look again at the case.
So far three men have been convicted over Mrs Dewani’s death.Last year South African Xolile Mngeni was convicted of premeditated murder for shooting her.
Prosecutors claimed that he was a hitman hired by Dewani to kill his new wife, something that Dewani has consistently denied.
Taxi driver Zola Tongo was jailed for 18 years after he admitted his part in the killing, and another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, also pleaded guilty to murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence.
Today the courtroom was packed with Mrs Dewani's relatives, who wore photographs of her pinned to their clothes, decorated with pink ribbons.
Today Mrs Dewani's family said they were satisfied with the decision that Dewani should be extradited. They said: 'We will fight this battle to the end and this battle has just begun.'
ANNI'S FAMILY'S BATTLE TO LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT HER DEATHAnni's sister Ami Denborg said: 'We’re just waiting, waiting for an actual trial, we’re waiting for the truth for all our unanswered questions to be answered. 'It’s a long wait for us.'
Her brother Anish Hindocha told of the effects the past two years have had on his family: 'It's been a nightmare for our parents, they can barely sleep and we as the sister and brother are trying to be strong in front of them but it’s really difficult.'
Of her father Vinod Hindocha, she said: 'Every single time there's a hearing he stands there, watching, seeing and thinking about Anni. She is always with us.'
Ami added: 'My dad has been to every single court hearing, here in England and in South Africa. 'He’s been travelling just to find out what happened to Anni. My mum's really struggling with her health and it’s a stress that she can’t really handle.'
Ami added: 'I would say my father has aged. In two years he’s aged so many years. It shows on his face, the pain and the fact that he doesn’t sleep properly so he just wants to know what happened and it’s a desire that has taken time away from everything else.'
