NRI businessman Shrien Dewani, accused of plotting the murder of his Indo-Swedish wife on their honeymoon, was too ill to attend a court hearing on his extradition to South Africa, his lawyer said today.
Dewani, who is allegedly suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and clinical depression, did not attend the brief hearing at Woolwich Crown Court in south east London today.
The date for the next hearing was set for March 23 at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court, which Dewani will be required to attend.
Dewani is accused of plotting to have his wife, Anni,28, who was killed in a Cape Town township last November was due to appear at Belmarsh Magistrates this morning for a second extradition hearing.
One of the gunmen accused of killing honeymoon bride Anni Dewani has also cast doubt on police claims that her husband Shrien plotted the murder.
Mziwamadoda Qwabe told police that, rather than being a planned hit, there was never any intention that she should die.
Vinod Hindocha, father of murdered honeymoon bride has claimed her husband was pretending to be ill to avoid today’s extradition hearing.
According to the Daily Mail, Hindocha told a South African newspaper that "sources" had seen Shrien out at restaurants, undermining the claim by PR Max Clifford’s that he is too ill to attend court.
"When you can go to restaurants to have meals, you can’t be sick. Many sources have told me they’ve seen Shrien out in restaurants, which means he can go to court," Hindocha was quoted as saying by CapeTimes newspaper.
South African authorities want the Bristol businessman sent back to the country to answer charges that he paid 1,300pounds to hitmen to have his new bride killed.
A three-day extradition hearing will take place from May 3 to 5, determining whether Dewani will be forced to return to the country where his wife was killed.
Dewani vehemently denies the charge.
Shrien and Annia Dewani celebrating on their wedding day beforeAnni was shot dead less than two weeks later on the honeymoon in Cape Town Tongo was sentenced to 18 years for his part in the murder on November 13 while two other men face the same charges later this month.
Lawyers for Dewani will question whether he would receive a fair trial if extradited to South Africa for the alleged murder of his wife, the court heard today.
Ben Watson, representing the South African authorities, said they had been notified of the issues the defence intended to raise in the fight against Dewani's extradition.
As well as questioning whether he would receive a fair trial, the businessman's lawyers will also bring up prison conditions in South Africa and Dewani's physical and mental condition.
Shrien also failed to appear at Westminster court on January 20, citing symptoms of acute stress disorder.
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