Shrien Dewani Accused Of Exercising Despite Illness

Too Ill To Come To Court? Shrien Dewani Accused of Copious Exercise

PRESS ASSOCIATION -- A British businessman wanted in South Africa over his bride's murder has been taking "strenuous exercise" despite being too ill to come to court, it has emerged.

Shrien Dewani is accused of ordering the killing of Anni Dewani in Cape Town during their honeymoon and is said to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

He was allowed to leave court less than 10 minutes into his resumed extradition hearing after his lawyer Clare Montgomery QC argued it was "positively inhuman" to keep him there.

But Hugo Keith QC, representing the South African authorities who want him to stand trial in the country, pointed out that the Bristol care home owner had been "carrying out strenuous exercise for hours on end".

This included skipping energetically, doing sit-ups and push-ups and using a gym, Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in south-east London heard.

Mr Keith asked: "Is that consistent with a man who is so psychomotor-retarded he is unable to comprehend what's going on around him?" Dr Paul Cantrell, who has been treating Dewani, replied: "Absolutely."

The newlyweds were being chauffeured through the dangerous township of Gugulethu when their taxi was hijacked on November 13.

Dewani was ejected while his wife was driven off and shot dead. Her body was found the next morning in the back of the abandoned cab.

Taxi driver Zola Tongo, who has admitted his part in the crime, claimed in a plea agreement with prosecutors that Dewani ordered the car-jacking and paid for a hit on his wife.

Dewani denies any wrongdoing and his lawyers have argued he may not be safe if held in a South African prison.

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