/ 21 November 2010

Tourist murder: Husband may return to SA

It was not yet confirmed whether the husband of the murdered British honeymoon tourist would be returning to South Africa.

It was not yet confirmed whether the husband of the murdered British honeymoon tourist would be returning to South Africa to assist with the investigation, Western Cape police said.

Captain Frederick van Wyk said he could not comment on newspaper reports that Shrien Dewani was returning to the country.

The Sunday Independent reported that “a well-placed police source” — who was not named — said Dewani (31) was on his way back for “an identity parade and to point out crime scenes”.

Two men aged 26 and a 30-year-old, were arrested earlier in the week in connection with the murder of Anni Dewani.

Xolile Mngeni appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of murder. The other two men were expected to appear in court this week.

‘Planned hit’
Newspapers on Saturday reported that the killing could have been a planned hit.

Anni (28) and Shrien Dewani had been married for two weeks when they were attacked by two armed men who hijacked their shuttle-service vehicle near Gugulethu last Saturday.

They arrived in the country on Thursday and were in Cape Town for their honeymoon. The couple were apparently returning from a dinner in Somerset West at the time of the attack.

Two armed men forced the driver out of the shuttle vehicle and drove off with the couple. Around midnight they dropped off the husband in the Harare area of the Khayelitsha informal settlement.

He was assisted by passing motorists who took him to the Harare police station unharmed. A search for the hijacked vehicle — a Volkswagen Sharan — led to it being found in Lingelethu West.

The kidnapped wife’s body was found on the back seat of the vehicle.

Britain’s the Sun on Friday reported that Shrien Dewani, the woman’s husband, who owned a British healthcare company with his father and brother, was £6,25-million (R70-million) in debt.

Police were allegedly looking for two more people believed to work for two top Cape Town hotels.

It was also reported that a unnamed police source said “an explosive revelation” would be made soon. – Sapa