Hospital staff do not believe that the British businessman Shrien Dewani is manipulating assessment of his mental health to avoid extradition to South Africa for allegedly plotting the murder of his wife, a court has heard.
Dewani is suffering from severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder following the murder of his wife, Anni, during their honeymoon in Cape Town, and his legal team has argued that he is too ill to return to face trial.
But the extradition hearing in London has been told that Dewani has ignored some medical advice, such as taking part in group therapy sessions and going outside to help combat a vitamin D deficiency.
It has also been suggested by the South African authorities that Dewani, who is being treated at a medium-security hospital, may have been exercising vigorously to exacerbate a physical condition that means he has not been able to take anti-depressant drugs.
Symptoms of his condition
Representing the South Africans at the hearing, Hugo Keith QC asked an expert in neuropsychiatry, Michael Kopelman, whether there was any evidence of “a deliberate decision to avoid getting better by refusing treatment”.
Kopelman said he believed that Dewani’s refusals were symptoms of his conditions and that those caring for him did not suspect deliberate manipulation.
But he said: “We cannot exclude the possibility that there may be some evidence of conscious manipulation.”
Kopelman has categorised Dewani as a high suicide risk who is unfit to stand trial, and said his medical conditions would be exacerbated by extradition.
Westminster magistrate’s court, sitting at Woolwich in East London, was told that Kopelman had had two sessions with Dewani. Eventually the patient had opened up about his background, his family and his wife. But there were “gaps” in his account of his honeymoon in November last year.
It is alleged that Dewani, from Bristol, plotted a fake car-hijacking with three other men. Dewani strongly denies any involvement.
Speaking of the events, Kopelman said: “He certainly had difficulty remembering it or giving a continuous flow.”
He concluded: “All psychiatrists who have reported have agreed there will be a deterioration if he is extradited. There is no physical reason why he can’t go on a plane. It would be enormously distressing for him, it would be the beginning of the extradition process with all that implies, but yes, he can get on a plane.”
The hearing continues. – guardian.co.uk