Anni Dewanis Family Have Seen Their
Anni Dewani’s family have seen their “nightmare” come true as Shrien Dewani walks free after being cleared of arranging her murder.
Her parents and siblings were in court today to hear the case against Mr Dewani be dismissed as the judge found that the prosecution’s evidence fell “far below the threshold” of what a reasonable court could convict on.
Mrs Dewani’s family had led public appeals for Judge Jeanette Traverso not to let the case collapse, saying it would be their worst “nightmare” for the trial to finish before her husband had even taken the stand.
They immediately left the courtroom after Monday’s verdict was delivered, venting their anger on the steps outside.
The Hindocha family claimed the South African legal system had failed them, saying: “We feel really, really sad because we have not heard the full story. Shrien lived a double life.”
He had admitted his bisexuality during the case and having affairs with men, which prosecution lawyers attempted to argue gave him cause to plot his wife’s murder to escape the relationship.
Mrs Dewani, 28, was shot dead after being abducted from a taxi travelling through a township near Cape Town on her honeymoon in November 2010.
Her husband was dumped from the vehicle unharmed but she was found dead the next day.
Three men were jailed over her murder but claimed Mr Dewani paid them to kill his wife and make it look like a hijacking.
Judge Traverso today found that key evidence was “so improbable, with so many mistakes, lies and inconsistencies you cannot see where the lies ended and the truth begins”.
She allowed an application from Mr Dewani’s defence team that the case should be dismissed, saying the quality of evidence made it impossible for the trial to continue.
The Hindochas had begged Mr Dewani to “tell the world what happened the night she died”, with her brother Anish imploring him to take to the witness stand and tell his story for the first time.
Mr Dewani, who can now return to the UK a free man,
Her parents and siblings were in court today to hear the case against Mr Dewani be dismissed as the judge found that the prosecution’s evidence fell “far below the threshold” of what a reasonable court could convict on.
Mrs Dewani’s family had led public appeals for Judge Jeanette Traverso not to let the case collapse, saying it would be their worst “nightmare” for the trial to finish before her husband had even taken the stand.
They immediately left the courtroom after Monday’s verdict was delivered, venting their anger on the steps outside.
The Hindocha family claimed the South African legal system had failed them, saying: “We feel really, really sad because we have not heard the full story. Shrien lived a double life.”
He had admitted his bisexuality during the case and having affairs with men, which prosecution lawyers attempted to argue gave him cause to plot his wife’s murder to escape the relationship.
Mrs Dewani, 28, was shot dead after being abducted from a taxi travelling through a township near Cape Town on her honeymoon in November 2010.
Her husband was dumped from the vehicle unharmed but she was found dead the next day.
Three men were jailed over her murder but claimed Mr Dewani paid them to kill his wife and make it look like a hijacking.
Judge Traverso today found that key evidence was “so improbable, with so many mistakes, lies and inconsistencies you cannot see where the lies ended and the truth begins”.
She allowed an application from Mr Dewani’s defence team that the case should be dismissed, saying the quality of evidence made it impossible for the trial to continue.
The Hindochas had begged Mr Dewani to “tell the world what happened the night she died”, with her brother Anish imploring him to take to the witness stand and tell his story for the first time.
Mr Dewani, who can now return to the UK a free man,