Shrien Dewani Extradition Delayed As Businessman 'To Apply For Mental Health Treatment On NHS Ward'

Shrien Dewani 'To Apply For Mental Health Treatment On NHS Ward'

Shrien Dewani, the businessman accused of murdering his wife on their South African honeymoon, is to apply to be treated on an open NHS ward after an improvement in his mental health, a court has heard.

Dr Paul Cantrell, the psychiatrist treating Shrien Dewani, would "wish to see" a relaxation in his bail conditions to help in his treatment and ensure his continued recovery, Westminster Magistrates' Court in London was told.

The 32-year-old is currently being held at Fromeside Clinic, a secure mental health hospital in Bristol where he is subject to a curfew and must be accompanied by staff when he leaves.

A picture taken of the couple on their wedding day

Hugo Keith QC, for the South African authorities, said Dewani's defence has written to the court and the CPS on Friday including a letter from Dr Cantrell, who described Dewani's depression as having "materially improved".

The hearing was told that a report by a psychiatrist employed by the South African authorities on Mr Dewani's mental health has not yet been completed.

Shrien Dewani is being looked after by medics but may be treated on an open NHS war.

The report was requested after an earlier hearing at which Clare Montgomery QC told the court that Mr Dewani needed 12 months to recover from depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder before being able to deal with the extradition process.

Miss Montgomery said keeping Dewani under medical treatment in Britain for 12 months would increase the speed of her client's recovery rather then jeopardising it by sending him to South Africa.

Dewani, who is accused of arranging the contract killing of his wife Anni in Cape Town in November 2010, is receiving treatment after being sectioned and deemed a suicide risk.

Anni and Shrien on their wedding day. The 28-year-old Swedish woman was killed by a bullet shot to the neck

He has previously pledged to clear his name.

The case was adjourned for a further hearing on October 2. An application to vary his bail conditions may be heard on October 12.

Dewani's 28-year-old wife, who was from Sweden, was shot when a taxi the couple were travelling in was hijacked in the Gugulethu township on the outskirts of Cape Town.

She was found dead in the back of the abandoned vehicle with a bullet wound to her neck after taxi driver Zola Tongo drove the newlyweds to the impoverished area.

Xolile Mngeni who has a brain tumour, is standing trial accused of killing the 28-year-old. He denies murder, kidnapping, robbery and illegal possession of a firearm.

He and Dewani were ejected by the hijackers before Mrs Dewani was driven away and killed.

Tongo, who has admitted his part in the crime, claimed in a plea agreement with prosecutors that Dewani ordered the carjacking and paid for a hit on his wife.

In March, the High Court temporarily halted Dewani's extradition because of his poor mental health.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe was jailed for 25 years and Tongo was jailed for 18 years after saying Dewani offered him 15,000 rand (about £1,200) to arrange the killing and make it look like a carjacking.

Sir John Thomas, the president of the Queen's Bench Division, and Mr Justice Ouseley, ruled it was "unjust and oppressive" to send him to South Africa straight away.

But they rejected claims that he should not be extradited on human rights grounds and said it was in the interests of justice that he be extradited "as soon as he is fit".

Anni Dewani's father said he was frustrated over the delay

Speaking outside the hearing, Vinod Hindocha, Anni's father, expressed his disappointment and frustration at further delay in the extradition process.

"Why am I here again today with still no real hope of knowing the full story of why my daughter Anni was murdered?" he said.

"I stand before you a father who has lost his beautiful darling at the hands of a gunman on her honeymoon."

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