The London hearing for the extradition of Shrien Dewani to South Africa for a murder trial was adjourned to February because he was ill, the City of Westminster Magistrate’s Court ruled on Thursday.
“We learned from the legal representatives of Shrien Dewani that he is not medically fit to be in court today,” South Africa’s Department of Justice spokesperson Tlali Tlali told the South African Press Association (Sapa) in a text message.
“Our attitude towards this development is that it is the court that can excuse Mr Dewani from being in attendance, and for that reason we think it is best that the matter be placed on record in court for the court to give direction on.
“They will probably have to produce a medical certificate to the effect that Shrien is not fit to be at the court,” said Tlali.
The court heard he was suffering from “acute stress disorder”, according to tweets from reporters in the court.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation reported the matter was postponed to February 8.
Dewani is wanted in South Africa in connection with the murder of his wife Anni, while the newlyweds were on honeymoon in South Africa in November.
Dewani: The UK’s Schabir?
Cape Town shuttle bus driver Zola Tongo was sentenced to 18 years in prison in South Africa after he submitted a plea agreement which implicated Dewani in an alleged R15Â 000 hit on Anni. He referred to her as a “client”, allegedly when arranging it.
The couple had decided to visit a restaurant in Gugulethu outside Cape Town when they were hijacked, according to initial reports. Shrien was then thrown out of the window of the vehicle. Anni was later found dead in Khayelitsha.
The director of a chain of British retirement homes returned to the United Kingdom soon after the murder. Speculation over his involvement has been rife.
Dewani has engaged the services of Cape Town lawyer Taswell Papier, whose CV includes a stint at Harvard, pro-bono work in the Western Cape, and specialities in commercial, tax, fisheries and international law.
As news broke that Dewani would not be present on Thursday, tweets began drawing comparisons between Dewani and Schabir Shaik.
Shaik, President Jacob Zuma’s former financial adviser, was controversially released from incarceration on grounds of ill health following his 15-year sentence for fraud and corruption, relating to money he allegedly channelled from an arms deal company to Zuma.
Two other people — Xolile Mnguni and Mziwamadoda Qwabe — are in custody in South Africa for their alleged roles in the murder. — Sapa