Graphic footage of Anni Dewani’s body has been shown to a court in South Africa as the murder trial of her former husband began in sensational circumstances.
The footage showed forensics officers opening the door of the abandoned taxi where Anni Dewani died, showing her lying stained with blood on the back seat, with her long hair moving in the breeze.
MORE: Shrien Dewani Tells Trial He Is Bisexual And Had Sex With Male Prostitutes
Shrien Dewani, on trial for murdering his new bride on their honeymoon in 2010, appeared to bow his head as the film was shown, while members of the courtroom gasped.
Wearing a black suit, white shirt and dark tie, the British millionaire had earlier told the court he was controlling, intense and bisexual, but insisted he did not kill his wife.
Shrien Dewani today formally entered not guilty pleas at the Western Cape High Court in South Africa, nearly four years after his wife was gunned down in a taxi as the pair toured a rough neighbourhood in Cape Town.
Dewani, 34, denied any involvement in plotting to kill Anni, who died from a gunshot wound to the neck.
The footage of the crime scene and Anni's body 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 camera panned to the other side of the car, showing blood covering Anni's ankles and feet.
The street corner where men got into the couple's taxi
Pathologist Dr Janette Verster said Anni Dewani, who grew up in Sweden, suffered gunshot wounds to her left hand and her neck - the latter being the likely cause of death.
The fatal shot was delivered "at close range", with a suggestion that Mrs Dewani might have been grabbing on to "someone or something" at the time she died, the court heard.
Dr Verster added there was no suggestion the victim had been sexually assaulted.
Verster: There is no evidence the deceased was sexually violated.
— David Smith (@SmithInAfrica) October 6, 2014#DewaniTrial @eNCAnews Van Zyl refers to an earring "butterfly" (back), found in Anni's hair.
— Leigh-Anne Jansen (@LA_JANSEN) October 6, 2014Doctor describes how Mrs Dewani bled to death from a gunshot wound. She also describes bruises on her leg which suggest she was grabbed.
— Aislinn Laing (@Simmoa) October 6, 2014Anni's father Vinod Hindocha stares blankly at the Pathologist as she maticulously details the autopsy #DewaniTrial #HeartNews
— Graeme Raubenheimer (@GraemeRauby) October 6, 2014Anni bled to death within minutes, said pathologist. #dewanitrial. #dailymirror
— Shekhar Bhatia (@shekharbhatia) October 6, 2014#DewaniTrial @eNCAnews Four fresh (blue) semi-circular contusions on her body. They showed no signs of changing colour.
— Leigh-Anne Jansen (@LA_JANSEN) October 6, 2014#DewaniTrial @eNCAnews This shows that Anni was shot at close range because of the soot position
— Leigh-Anne Jansen (@LA_JANSEN) October 6, 2014Dr Verster describes another gunshot defect. We've only known of a single gunshot #DewaniTrial
— Ruth Maclean (@ruthmaclean) October 6, 2014Doctor says they took care not to disturb the vehicle or body to protect forensic evidence. Her hands were enclosed in brown paper bags.
— Aislinn Laing (@Simmoa) October 6, 2014Shrien Dewani, a care home entrepreneur from Weston-on-Trym near Bristol, had to be extradited to South Africa to face trial against a background of lurid allegations about his private life.
Today, 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.
READ MORE:
Dewani said he was 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.
"At that point, my whole world came crashing down," he said. "The next thing I recall is that the doctor gave me some pills in my bedroom."
Prosecutors argue that Dewani - who was extradited from the UK to face trial - 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 has affected his client's ability to remember things clearly - but insisted he was not responsible for plotting the murder.
Members of the victim's family wore brooches with Anni's face on as they attended the hearing today.
Before his extradition, and between months of court hearings, Dewani was detained in a hospital in Britain with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
It is not yet known whether he will be giving evidence in his defence.
The case, which is due to run until December, was adjourned until Wednesday morning.
