South African man convicted of murdering Anni Dewani dies in jail

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/18/anni-dewani-killer-dies-in-jail

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The man convicted of shooting dead newlywed Anni Dewani on her honeymoon in South Africa has died in prison from brain cancer. Xolile Mngeni, who had been serving a life sentence after being convicted of shooting Dewani in 2012, had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent surgery while awaiting trial in 2011.

Mngeni, a drug-dealer, was found guilty of killing Dewani in the Gugulethu township near Cape Town in 2010. It was found that he had hijacked a cab that Dewani and her husband, British businessman Shrien Dewani, were travelling in, before fatally shooting her in the neck.

After his conviction, Dewani’s father, Vinod Hindocha, branded Mngeni “a weak and spineless coward” for killing his “defenceless daughter”.

Mngeni had been suffering from pineoblastoma since 2011, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer with a very low survival rate.

During his trial, in which the court heard he had only five years to live, he appeared frail and at times used a frame to walk to the dock. In July, it was reported that a medical parole application had been made on compassionate grounds after 11 doctors signed a waiver saying Mngeni’s brain cancer was terminal.

However, the parole was denied after outcry from both the public and from Dewani’s family.

In September it is believed Mngeni met his lawyers to discuss a second bid, claiming he could be cared for at home by one of his relatives who is a healthcare worker, but the case was never brought back before a judge.

Shrien Dewani, who returned to the UK shortly after his wife’s death, now stands accused of masterminding her murder.

Following a long legal battle, he lost his case against extradition to South Africa in January of this year. He is currently on trial at the Western Cape high court, though he denies his involvement in the crime and says he and his wife were ambushed by robbers while on honeymoon.

Mngeni had been considered as a witness in the trial against Shrien Dewani if his health had allowed it. He died in the hospital section of Goodwood prison in Cape Town, officials said.