Honeymooner accused of murder fears unfair trial
Publicist Max Clifford said it was “absolutely frightening” that Menzi Semelani appeared to have pre-judged the case.
South African authorities are seeking to have Dewani, 31, taken back to the country to stand trial for the alleged contract murder of his new wife, Anni, 28, on their honeymoon in Cape Town in November.
Interviewed on South African television about the extradition process, Semelani told SABC3: “This is a pure criminal matter of somebody who murdered his wife whilst he should be celebrating his honeymoon.”
“The facts here are that the accused, that is sought to be extradited, came to the country and committed what is a very heinous crime.”
The national police commissioner Bheki Cele has already faced criticism after calling Dewani a “monkey”.
Speaking in December, the commissioner said: “One monkey came from London to kill his wife here. He thought we South Africans were stupid. Don’t kill people here.”
Dewani’s family spokesman said: “The family will not enter into criticism or debate regarding the South African Prosecution Service or authorities but will raise all issues in the legal proceedings where Shrien will be cleared of all the false allegations against him.”
But publicist Max Clifford, who represents Shrien Dewani, said: “The fact that the national prosecutor has already found him guilty and described him as somebody who has committed a heinous crime, you can see why we are very worried about what awaits him if he goes back to South Africa.
“It clearly shows the prosecutor and the chief of police have already found him guilty and that’s frightening. Can you imagine if that had happened in this country?”
Dewani is due to appear before City of Westminster Magistrates Court on March 23 for the next stage of the proceedings, with a three-day extradition hearing set for May 3-5.
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