‘I’m bisexual and I am controlling but I didn’t kill my wife’

The British millionaire accused of murdering his bride on their honeymoon told his murder trial: I am controlling, intense and bisexual, but I did not kill my wife.

Shrien Dewani formally entered not guilty pleas at the Western Cape High Court in South Africa, nearly four years after his wife, Anni Dewani was gunned down as the pair toured a rough neighbourhood in Cape Town.

Dewani, 34, denied any involvement in plotting to kill his wife, who died from a gunshot wound to the neck.

Graphic footage of the crime scene was played to the court — which included members of both families — as the suspect admitted sexual activity with male prostitutes and a history of arguments with his wife during their 18-month romance.

The care home entrepreneur, from Weston-on-Trym near Bristol, had to be extradited to face trial against a background of lurid allegations about his private life.

Yesterday, for the first time publicly, Dewani described himself as bisexual and lifted the lid on the behaviour that characterised their relationship.

He also recalled the final words he said to his 28-year-old wife, the last time he saw her alive as car-jackers struck during their luxury honeymoon in November 2010.

Prosecutors argue that Dewani conspired with locals Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni to kill his wife.

Tongo, Qwabe and Mngeni are already serving jail terms in connection with the murder.

Dewani’s counsel, Francois van Zyl, said the trauma of the incident had affected his client’s ability to remember things clearly — but insisted he was not responsible for plotting the murder.

Reading from Dewani’s hour-long witness statement, Mr van Zyl described how Dewani and his wife had been in the back of Tongo’s taxi when they took a turn off the motorway into a township.

Dewani said: “The next thing I remember was banging noises coming from the front and right-hand side of the car. We were both terrified and immediately complied with his demands. Another person was behind the steering wheel. I do not know where Tongo was at that stage.”

His statement said they returned to the motorway with another driver taking control of the wheel. Dewani said he was then ordered to leave the car with a gun to his head. “The last thing I had said to Anni was to be quiet and not to say anything.”

The next day, Dewani was informed that his wife had been found dead.

He denies murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.

Dewani’s witness statement also said: “My sexual interactions with males were mostly physical experiences or email chats with people I met online or in clubs, including prostitutes.” He said both he and his wife were “opinionated and liked to control every detail” but that they loved each other.

The case, which is due to run until December, was adjourned until tomorrow morning.