Dewani’s wife ‘killed as kidnap bid went wrong’

Honeymooner Anni Dewani was supposed to be kidnapped and ransomed, defence lawyers told Cape Town High Court yesterday, where her murder trial is being heard.

The hitmen allegedly hired by her British businessman husband, Shrien Dewani, had meant to kidnap and ransom her, defence lawyers said, while raising the possibility there were plans to “sexually molest or rape” her before she was killed accidentally.

Dewani’s defence counsel Francois van Zyl claimed the gunshot that killed the 28-year-old had been discharged accidentally and that the attackers were going to rape the bride and exchange her for a ransom.