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10 Top Moments In The Shrien Dewani Case

10 Top Moments In The Shrien Dewani Case

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Of all the recent crimes in South Africa, the alleged honeymoon murder of Anni Dewani by her husband Shrien Dewani has gotten some of the most attention. It is hard not to get drawn in because the case involves so many issues: betrayal, deception, money, and some things that South Africans find especially riveting — cultural and racial identity. Here are 10 top moments in the Shrien Dewani case which is scheduled to start May 12.

Sources: CrimeLibrary.com, MG.co.za, TheGuardian.com

dailymail.co.uk
dailymail.co.uk

Case Background

Anni Hindochi Dewani’s Hindu family lived in Uganda before she was born. Facing brutality and hardships under the dictatorship, the family fled Uganda in the 1970s and settled in Sweden, where Anni was born in 1982. Beautiful and incredibly intelligent, Anni was a model, an engineer, and worked for Ericksson.

Shrien Dewani was also of Hindu descent and grew up in Bristol, England. He was a successful businessman who helped turn his family’s chain of nursing homes into a lucrative business, becoming a millionaire in the process.

Anni met Shrien on a trip to England in 2009.  They courted for a year before Shrien got permission from Anni’s family to marry her. In 2010, the couple was formally engaged and they were married in Mumbai, India on Oct. 29, 2010.  For their honeymoon, the couple went to South Africa. This is where Anni Dewani was brutally murdered.

theguardian.com/Nic Bothma Gugulethu
theguardian.com/Nic Bothma
Gugulethu

Top 10 Moments in the Case

1. The Murder

After several days touring South Africa, Anni and Shrien Dewani decide to “see the real Africa.” On Nov. 13, 2010, they had their driver Zola Tongo take them into Gugulethu – one of the most violent townships in South Africa located near Cape Town. It is disputed whose idea it was.  Within three minutes of exiting the highway, their car was hijacked at gunpoint and the driver thrown out. After 20 minutes, Shrien was also thrown out of the car and the abductors drove off with Anni inside. The next morning, police found Anni Dewani’s battered and lifeless body inside the car.

dailymail.co.uk
dailymail.co.uk

2. The Investigation

Using fingerprints found on the car, police were able to identify suspects. They arrested two Gugulethu residents – Xolile Mngeni and Mziwamadoda Qwabe – as well as the driver Zolo Tongo.  Almost immediately, the suspects hinted that the crime hadn’t been a robbery but a premeditated hit. Tongo soon testified that Dewani had arranged for them to kill his wife. The purported price for arranging the murders? Tongo claims to have received 5000 rand ($484) and the two killers received 15,000 rand ($1452).

mirror.co.uk
mirror.co.uk

3. Shrien Dewani Treated for Mental Health Problems

Back in the U.K., Shrien Dewani sought help for mental health problems supposedly resulting from the stress and trauma of the incident. This set the stage for later claims of mental health issues.

telegraph.co.uk
telegraph.co.uk

4. Tongo Sentenced

On Dec. 7, 2010, Tongo pleaded guilty and got a reduced sentence of 18 years in prison for his confession.

theguardian.com
theguardian.com

5. Shrien Dewani Arrested

Shrien Dewani was arrested in the U.K. Dec. 8, 2010. Dewani promised to fight the extradition. In January of 2011, his solicitor told the courts in the U.K. that Dewani suffered from acute stress disorder and thus was unfit for extradition to South Africa.

morningafrica.com
morningafrica.com

6. Extradition Ruling and Appeals

In August 2011, a U.K. judge ruled that Shrien Dewani was fit for extradition and trial in South Africa. So began a long process of appeals from Dewani. His attorney again claimed he was mentally unfit for trial. Finally, on Jan. 31, 2014, the high court ruled that Dewani must be extradited to South Africa and, in March, the court blocked any further appeals.

thetimes.co.uk
thetimes.co.uk

7. Qwabe Sentenced

On Aug. 8, 2012, Qwabe pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and murder of Anni Dewani.  He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

theguardian.com/ Nic Bathma
theguardian.com/ Nic Bathma

8. Mngeni Sentenced

Mngeni’s trial was delayed because of surgery for a brain tumour. He appeared in court on Aug. 15, 2012, and pleaded not guilty. The trial wrapped up Nov. 19, 2012 with Mngeni getting a life sentence for being the one who fired the shot that killed Anni.

telegraph.co.uk/ Geoff Pugh
telegraph.co.uk/ Geoff Pugh

9. Shrien Arrives in Cape Town

On April 7, 2014, Shrien arrived in Cape Town via private jet, was paid for by the South African government. He was charged with murder in his cell, away from the prying eyes of the public and journalists flooding the courtroom. Shrien was then taken to the Valkenberg psychiatric hospital until his next hearing.

theguardian.com
theguardian.com

10. Possible Motive

With the trial set to begin, the media is in a frenzy of speculation as to why the wealthy Shrien would kill his beautiful bride just weeks after their marriage. The leading speculation is that Shrien is gay — not an option in Hindu culture — and that he wanted out of his marriage.