/ 25 February 2011

United Kingdom court rules Dewani can stay at home

United Kingdom Court Rules Dewani Can Stay At Home

A United Kingdom court ruled that honeymoon murder accused Shrien Dewani can stay home for at least another two weeks following an application by South Africa to have his bail revoked because he apparently tried to commit suicide, the justice ministry said on Friday.

“The application has been adjourned to March 15 as the court wants another psychiatric report,” said spokesman Tlali Tlali on Friday morning after the application was heard on Thursday.

“He remains on bail under [the] same conditions.”

Judge Howard Riddle requested several undertakings from his family at the Belmarsh Magistrates Court in south east London on Thursday, including a promise that Dewani’s medication would be kept locked away, reported the UK-based the Telegragh newspaper.

South African authorities, who want the 31-year-old businessman extradited, had argued that there was an increased risk that he may try to kill himself.

Dewani’s father Prakash Dewani told the court he wanted his son to be safe.

‘Want him to be safe’
As his father was speaking, Dewani started sobbing uncontrollably, reported the Telegraph.

“We will do everything as a family to keep him safe and prove his innocence to the South Africans,” Prakash Dewani reportedly said.

“We will do every single thing to make sure he gets better. I want him to be safe.”

Dewani reportedly swallowed up to 46 tablets at his home in Bristol on Sunday evening, but his family denied that he had taken so many pills.

He is accused of masterminding the murder of his new bride Anni in Cape Town last November. The 28-year-old woman from Sweden was shot in the neck.

Two men, Xolile Mngeni and Mzwamadoda Qwabe, accused of killing Anni in a staged hijacking, are due to appear in the Wynberg Regional Court in Cape Town later on Friday. — Sapa