Husband of murdered honeymooner ‘suffering acute stress’
The husband of murdered bride Anni Dewani is suffering from “acute stress”, his lawyer says.
Shrien Dewani was set to appear before an extradition hearing but failed to turn up.
Ms Dewani was killed while on her honeymoon in South Africa in November. She was found shot dead after an apparent hijacking.
Her husband, a Bristol businessman, has been accused of hiring hitmen to kill her and South African police are seeking his return to the country.
Since the murder, rumours have surfaced of an affair between Mr Dewani and a male prostitute and his sexual orientation has been questioned.
The 31-year-old is facing charges of conspiracy to murder, murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravated circumstances and obstruction of the administration of justice.
Westminster magistrates’ court heard today that he had been diagnosed by a psychiatrist with an acute stress disorder and a depressive adjustment disorder.
His bail was extended and an extradition hearing will be held on February 8th.
His wife’s family have urged him to return to the country to “clear the doubts”.
She was initially thought to have been killed in a hijacking. Mr Dewani and their taxi driver Zola Tongo escaped unharmed.
Tongo has already been jailed for 18 years.
His sentence was reduced from 25 years after he implicated the British businessman in the killing. Two other men are accused of murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping.
