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Anni Dewani murder accused husband's extradition 'may be kind' | Anni Dewani murder accused husband's extradition 'may be kind' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Extraditing a honeymoon murder suspect to South Africa could be a "kind thing", a court has been told. | Extraditing a honeymoon murder suspect to South Africa could be a "kind thing", a court has been told. |
Shrien Dewani is facing extradition after being accused of plotting to kill his wife, Anni Dewani, which he denies. | |
Speaking of more delays, psychiatrist Dr Ian Cumming said: "Actually, it may be a kind thing for him - to actually get on." | |
But his defence psychiatric expert has said his extradition may leave him in a worse state and unfit to stand trial. | |
Life-long symptoms | |
Speaking for the accused's defence, Prof Nigel Eastman said: "This was a man who had been extremely confident and successful who, almost at a stroke, in his terms, had lost everything. | |
"However that had come about, the loss of so much is an extremely depressing experience." | |
He added that it would be better to wait until Mr Dewani was in a "better clinical state". | |
"If he goes to South Africa and does not improve, he is at risk of being chronically ill and chronically unfit to plead," he said. | |
Prof Eastman accepted the unit in South Africa could care for Mr Dewani appropriately but argued it was a "gamble" to move him elsewhere in his current state. | |
He also believed Mr Dewani would always be haunted by the death of his wife. | |
"I don't believe this man will fully recover. He will be left with symptoms forever," added Prof Eastman. | |
Mr Dewani had been excused from attending the hearing. | |
Confidence in care | Confidence in care |
He is currently receiving treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, at Blaise View mental health hospital near Bristol. | He is currently receiving treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, at Blaise View mental health hospital near Bristol. |
Speaking at Westminster Magistrates' Court, Dr Cummings said: "It could be six months, then another six months, then on and on. | Speaking at Westminster Magistrates' Court, Dr Cummings said: "It could be six months, then another six months, then on and on. |
"It could make things worse and could be better to get on with it." | "It could make things worse and could be better to get on with it." |
Dr Cummings told the court he had visited South Africa in March. | Dr Cummings told the court he had visited South Africa in March. |
He said he felt reassured that Mr Dewani would be admitted to a general ward at Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town and not to a unit where people are sent by the courts. | He said he felt reassured that Mr Dewani would be admitted to a general ward at Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town and not to a unit where people are sent by the courts. |
He added: "The receiving hospital there will prepare themselves very well. There will be exchange of information and reports and a handover. | He added: "The receiving hospital there will prepare themselves very well. There will be exchange of information and reports and a handover. |
"It is likely a nurse will accompany him from the UK to South Africa. I think they would make it as robust as possible. | "It is likely a nurse will accompany him from the UK to South Africa. I think they would make it as robust as possible. |
"They would not stop whatever medication he is on - that would be bad practice and they would not do that." | "They would not stop whatever medication he is on - that would be bad practice and they would not do that." |
Taxi hijacking | Taxi hijacking |
In 2011, Mr Dewani tried to take an overdose. | |
His lawyers argued he would be a high suicide risk if he returned to the country and his human rights would be breached due to the risk of being sexually or physically attacked in jail. | His lawyers argued he would be a high suicide risk if he returned to the country and his human rights would be breached due to the risk of being sexually or physically attacked in jail. |
Newly-wed Mrs Dewani was shot when a taxi in which the couple were travelling in was hijacked in the Gugulethu township, Cape Town in November 2010. | |
Mr Dewani and driver Zola Tongo were ejected from the car before Mrs Dewani was driven away and killed. | Mr Dewani and driver Zola Tongo were ejected from the car before Mrs Dewani was driven away and killed. |
Last year South African Xolile Mngeni was convicted of premeditated murder for shooting Mrs Dewani. | Last year South African Xolile Mngeni was convicted of premeditated murder for shooting Mrs Dewani. |
Prosecutors claimed that he was a hitman hired by Mr Dewani to kill his new wife, something that Mr Dewani has consistently denied. | Prosecutors claimed that he was a hitman hired by Mr Dewani to kill his new wife, something that Mr Dewani has consistently denied. |
Tongo was jailed for 18 years after he admitted his part in the crime, and another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, also pleaded guilty to charges over the murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence. | Tongo was jailed for 18 years after he admitted his part in the crime, and another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, also pleaded guilty to charges over the murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence. |