Honeymoon murder suspect to be extradited

Honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani is due to be flown out of the UK tonight at the end of his long-fought battle against extradition.

The 34-year-old will reportedly fly from London’s Heathrow tonight, arriving in Cape Town tomorrow morning to be whisked straight to a court hearing.

Millionaire businessman Dewani is accused of ordering the murder of his 28-year-old wife Anni in November 2010, who was shot as the couple travelled in a taxi through the Gugulethu township while they were on honeymoon.

Dewani’s lawyers had argued he should not be forced from the UK to face trial until he had recovered from mental health problems including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

But in March judges at the High Court rejected all his grounds for appeal against removal and denied him the chance to take the case to the Supreme Court.

The care home owner is expected to appear at Western Cape High Court in Cape Town for a brief hearing tomorrow morning, and his mental health will then be assessed by a doctor.

It is expected he will be treated at the Valkenberg hospital while awaiting trial, and South African media have reported security at the facility, where a number of notorious criminals are held, has been beefed up in anticipation of his arrival.

Anni’s family welcomed the decision to send Dewani back to South Africa, saying that the prolonged legal proceedings had been “torture”.

Three men have already been convicted and jailed over Anni Dewani’s death, including taxi driver Zola Tongo, who was given 18 years after admitting his role in the killing.

Dewani has always denied the charges.