Indian origin British millionaire pleads ‘not guilty’ of killing wife
7 Oct 2014 6:15 AM IST
Speaking from the dock, Dewani, dressed in a dark suit and tie, glanced nervously around court and said he was ‘not guilty’ of charges of murder, kidnapping and obstructing justice.
The prosecution is expected to argue that Dewani is a gay man who was so desperate to escape an arranged marriage that he hired hitmen to kill his bride on their Cape Town honeymoon. In a statement read by defence layer Francois van Zyl, Dewani admitted he was bisexual, but said he was ‘instantly physically attracted’ to Swedish-born bride Anni (nee Hindocha), who was shot dead in November 2010, aged 28.
Both Dewani and his wife are of Indian origin, from what news reports have described as devout Hindu families. ‘I’ve had sexual interaction with both males and females. I consider myself bisexual,’ Dewani’s statement said.
He finally appeared in court after losing a three-year extradition fight in Britain and was ruled mentally fit to stand trial. He claims that he and his bride were hijacked at gunpoint as they drove through Cape Town.
Dewani escaped unhar-med, but his wife’s body was found in the car. Local media have reported one of the main witnesses for prosecution will be a sado-masochism ‘master’ from Britain who will claim Dewani paid him for sex.
The prosecution is expected to argue that Dewani is a gay man who was so desperate to escape an arranged marriage that he hired hitmen to kill his bride on their Cape Town honeymoon. In a statement read by defence layer Francois van Zyl, Dewani admitted he was bisexual, but said he was ‘instantly physically attracted’ to Swedish-born bride Anni (nee Hindocha), who was shot dead in November 2010, aged 28.
Both Dewani and his wife are of Indian origin, from what news reports have described as devout Hindu families. ‘I’ve had sexual interaction with both males and females. I consider myself bisexual,’ Dewani’s statement said.
He finally appeared in court after losing a three-year extradition fight in Britain and was ruled mentally fit to stand trial. He claims that he and his bride were hijacked at gunpoint as they drove through Cape Town.
Dewani escaped unhar-med, but his wife’s body was found in the car. Local media have reported one of the main witnesses for prosecution will be a sado-masochism ‘master’ from Britain who will claim Dewani paid him for sex.
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