I find it impossible to believe that beautiful Anni Dewani was cold bloodily murdered by her newly wed husband on their honeymoon in Cape Town. They looked the perfect couple, so happy and in love.
Anni was brutally short dead after she was shot dead when the car she was travelling in with her husband was carjacked by two men. Courts rely heavily on forensic evidence, and yet the body of Anni was released by police at the beginning of a murder investigation and allowed to be cremated amid varying reports of whether she was sexually assaulted. This would not have happened in the UK. During the drip feed of damning information against the grieving husband Shrien by South African police, we have heard nothing about vital forensic evidence which could convict him.
A statement made by their taxi-driver claiming the husband took out a contract on his wife is hardly reliable as he used this for his plea bargain for a reduced sentence after confessing to being an accomplice in her death. And I read today that the other two men charged with her murder were reportedly tortured or assaulted by police.
It is always the forensic evidence which strengthens a police prosecution, and it seems to be lacking. From what we have been told, I would fear for Shrien having a fair trial if he went to South Africa to answer police questions. I believe it is the police instead who should be answering them.
UPDATE 29 September, 2011: Shrien is to be extradited to South Africa.
I find it odd that one of the first things he did was consult Max Clifford. And I find it even more odd that he (or his team of expensive consultants) allowed the cremation of his wife’s body to go ahead. Why would he allow this to happen if he was determined to get justice for his wife ? Why would he allow this to happen if a post mortem would verify his version of events ?
I think you’re being a bit innocent on this, Ellee.
Taking this at face value then, I have been to similar countries with townships. There is no way on earth I would have put my wife in a similar situation. At the very least they were grossly stupid.
Kevin, I know I sound very trusting, and I initially thought it strange that the husband should approach Max Clifford. It could have been an act of desperation to try and secure some positive media following the flood of negative stories.
When his wife’s body was cremated, he was the husband was not a suspect, so it may not have occurred to him to ask for his own forensic tests, and in hindsight, this would have been the right thing to do. I just find it hard to believe he is guilty.
Yes, it was totally stupid to venture out into unsafe areas. I was surprised we didn’t hear of tourists and football supporters being murdered during the the football World Cup.
There are two reasons why he (or – more to the point – his expert team of advisers) should have asked for the body to have been preserved. I suppose they could state that religion was an issue, but then this is one of those situations where we have to grow up and put our baseless superstitions to one side* I put the reasons for holding the body on ice in order of importance:
– to enable the detection and certain conviction of the murderers.
– to help verify his own position of innocence should counter allegations (an obvious expectation) occur.
Of course – and I’m just running a theory here – if he were not innocent then it would be highly inconvenient for the body to be preserved. And I must say that this man has behaved rather oddly for whatever reason.
Of the football supporters: perhaps we’re wrong then. These are not the pitiless hell holes we assume them to be. Perhaps the people of the South African ghettos are right to be offended when we accuse them of being prolific killers.
More bad news for Shrien in that case then.
I too find it strange about the Max Clifford connection. Makes him sound guilty straight off. But what an extraordinary story…
Of course Shrien Dewani ordered the hit on his wife, and many people were saying it was suspicious immediately the story broke.
The CCTV footage and logs of mobile phone calls (would the police even have the content of the texts themselves?) will be quite enough evidence to ensure Dewani is convicted.
However I predict that Dewani will kill himself before he gets extradited to South Africa. He doesn’t look the type who would be able to survive 25 years in prison and I’m sure he realises that himself.
Jon – not necessarily enough to secure a conviction. The lost forensic evidence is a big problem.
If Shrien is guilty then will he have the inner resources needed to withstand the questionning of hard-nosed detectives and lawyers ?
Will there be any hard-nosed detectives and lawyers out there ? Maybe there will. And will Shrien’s defence team be up to it ? Juding by the top quality of the team thus far they might be.
So I’m not sure of a conviction. But you’re right. The mobile logs and the CCTV footage require some explanation.
By why Max Clifford ? Isn’t he the choice of vain celebrities ?
I’m not sure that vanity, and my public image, would be my foremost concern if my wife had just been gunned down in cold blood. I’d be a wreck. Probably on sedation.
At the very least we have a very cool and calculating character here.
I’ll be very surprised if we don’t hear that Clifford is bailing out soon. For private reasons – an amicable split perhaps.
BTW I would have fought like the devil to get the gun off the attacker. I would have known that the minute she was taken she was as good as dead.
I’m sceptical to an extent about why all this information is being fed to the media; some of it could have other explanations. The husband has said nothing, I presume on his solicitor’s advice, except to proclaim his innocence. I think it is all too easy to be sucked into what the South African government wants us to believe to suit their own purposes. I may be wrong and naive, but if the police had a solid case, he would have been charged by now.
On the first day of his wife’s Mr Dewani stated that he was pushed out of beck window strugling and screaming. I find this suprise as I have ford Galaxy which is same as hijacked car to do this Mr Dewani would have got some injury.
as to his statement that he had nothing to gain from his wife’s death as non of policies have her name. I like to say that it was hindu wedding which cost about £200,000. what the husband and wife got from wedding he and father in law. most of costs would have been paid by the father in law
Things to note .
The body language on the night of the supposed ” happy couple ” as caught on CCTV . He’s ahead of her by yards and not at all relaxed , hands tightly in pockets.
This is a young couple who have only just got married , they are supposed to be in love !
The fact that he clearly put up no fight to get her out of the car with him ( this is his bride ).Most decent men who loved their girl would never let this happen without putting up a fight for her.You’d also run after the car , he seems to have just wandered around ( wasting precious time or marking time ? )
Why did they not murder all three witnesses , why leave any alive to give descriptions of murderers and a supposed version of what had happened , youd have surely killed all or none.
Not a mark on him though supposed to have been thrown out of the vehicle .
Once the suspects had been detained an innocent man would have moved heaven and earth to be in the courtroom to see her alleged attacker give evidence and see him go down for her murder , you would not have got out of the country asap .
What didnt he want to have to face in that courtroom ?
The South African authorities claimed she had not been sexualy assaulted , why when the body was back here did he not have a second examination of it to confirm the SA results ?
What is the possible reason for this dreadful act ?
There has to be some sort or motive here.
Seems no insurance or the like , has she left a will ?
The one thing that I wondered was is it more personal to or about him ( not just he decided he didnt like her after two weeks in her company ) I note the reason now being suggested is that he’s gay .
It had certainly crossed my mind as a possibility.
We also now it seems have got the fact of another car murder three years ago of a prominent member of the local Indian community there .
Man known to family of the husband , curiouser and curiouser .
Im glad my daughter never met him.
He proberbly thinks that we all think that South Africans are all stupid and that their legal system is useless, I do not .
I think that Max Clifford was a greedy fool to take on this story !
Hi disaffected, this case gets murkier and murkier, with more information thrown at us. I heard those claims about the husband being gay too. It is totally fascinating.
Um, Elee – you say “but if the police had a solid case, he would have been charged by now.”. He has been charged a few days ago. The police are building their extradition case, and he is building his defense against extradition.
Shrien has been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to murder his wife, but not charged, and is fighting extradition proceedings as it is likely he will be charged in South Africa: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8187947/Honeymoon-husband-Shrien-Dewani-arrested-over-wifes-murder.html
Since this blog was written – a lot of water has passed under the bridge.
And more importantly a lot more knowledge/evidence has come to the public light.
Sadly : i fear for someone: that a lot of the beams are pointing in one direction; you can discount one or two but you cannot discount them all.
”Of course Shrien Dewani ordered the hit on his wife” says someone who knows only what he reads in the papers, only in fact what the police WANT him to know. The role of the media in this case, clearly being fed info from inside the investigation, is shocking, absolutely against any sense of fair play and justice.
Shrien Dewani has never been to SA before and yet is accused of a murder there in 2007, a fact which so gobsmacked the judge at the High Court that he was granted bail. He showed his passport as proof he has never been there and the court accepted it.
I really hope SA has more than the testimony of two convicted conspirators and a heap of nonsense about Dewani being gay. The man who gave Tongo’s name and that of two other men and Dewani will go FREE. He names all the others and WALKS. He also left a FB message hours before the murder, threatening to get even with someone. The whole case sucks.
Hello Ellee, a very Happy New Year to you and your readers. I am always suspect when PI’s are involved and I am spending more time reading bloggers who live in the area of Cape Town and listening to what they are saying. I have two schools of thought, Shrien is in it up to his neck OR he some how managed to escape and is riddled with guilt as he left his wife to her fate. His comment to Anni’s father ‘ I did not take care of your daughter like I promised’ maybe the only true words he has uttered. However, there are unconfirmed reports Annis ring was found under the drivers seat and Shrien said Anni whispered ‘I have hidden my ring’ this coming from a terrified woman does not ring true…it would however ring true if the ring was to later be collected by Shrien placed there by the hired killers and not carjackersas Anni believed…
Dr.Pox’s widows PI now ‘clearing’ Shrien of the murder in 2007, also suspect..claiming Dr.Pox was about to report something of great importance…Heather fleeing to Bristol and claiming the trip already arranged, for me also strange…Max Clifford seems to be her spokesman…all of them camped in Bristol and I have doubts Heather will ever return to South Africa, she is due back middle of January , I would imagine waiting to see how the tide goes with the extradition of Shrien..I do not believe Shrien is involved with the murder of Dr.Pox, I do believe though something is going on between the two families and it has to do with money and both have a lot to lose if the truth comes out.
http://dewanimystery.blogspot.com/2011/01/anni-hindochas-last-call-to-her-parents.html
Annis last call, interesting points
As a South African born solicitor living in the UK I find if fascinating how people here state that “South Africa is claiming this” and “South Africa is claiming that”. Put English patriotism aside – this isn’t a case of a country versus Shrien Dewani. The country isn’t claiming anything – it’s the SAPS or the state prosecution.
But back to the case…
As a South African I thought that this whole affair sounded fishy from the get go. I mean Anni wasn’t raped. It’s a disturbing thought, but in South Africa if a woman is kidnapped she WILL be raped. Secondly, why would he be happy being driven into a township (shanty town)? Hasn’t he heard that 50+ violent murders happen a day in South Africa. Or was he planning to you this as a “cover” all along?
Having said that, the justice system in South Africa (though plagued with 3rd world resource shortfalls), is run using a 1st world legal system. He will get a fair trial – it’s just that once he is found guilty the living conditions won’t be as good as those in England. But in the end I think that’s only fair.
http://watchingyouwatchingyme-steelmagnolia.blogspot.com/2010/12/dewani-if-they-take-your-woman-they.html
Hello Marcus, have brought this link over to back up your comment. The case is bizarre to say the least and I have every faith in SA that if they have the opportunity the truth will be known.
http://dewanimystery.blogspot.com/2011/01/judge-hlophe-cannot-hear-dewani-trial.html
Also explaining why Judge Hlope cannot hear the Dewani trial..I wonder if Max Clifford will allow the British press to print this , somehow I doubt it after last Sundays Telegraph PR stunt.
http://dewanimystery.blogspot.com/2011/01/dewani-project-for-anni-it-seems-is-lie.html
Dewani ‘ school for Anni’ appears to be a PR stunt..
http://dewanimystery.blogspot.com/2011/01/httpwww_21.html
A well written article explaining when you live and breathe SA, you know the crime and the reporting. The writer explains ‘the crime’ does not fit and goes on to explain why. Anni haunts her…..
http://dewanimystery.blogspot.com/2011/01/httpwww_21.html
There have been some well written and balanced articles alas not from the British media. BUT this one stands out because the high rate of murder in SA is explained with the end result. This is why Dewanis story has been questioned, it does not fit the profile carjack/hijacking in SA.
To top all that Heather Raghavjee widow of Dr Pox fled the country the moment she knew Dewani was a suspect…she was due to return to SA on the 15th she is still in Bristol. Max Clifford her PR man.
what if he used a different passpor l
There is much much more to come out with this one.
Unless I have missed something, is it normal practice to be able to turn up at an airport in SA, and immediately find a private driver who is happy to commit murder?
We are also presuming that the texts between Tongo and Dewani were all about the plan to kill Anni.
Since it has been suggested that Dewani is gay is it not more likely that Dewani chose Tongo as his driver as he suspected he was gay, the texts between them are flirting and planning their sexual liason. SUrely it is more likely that he would pick up a gay partner than a killer!
Dewani wants to keep his homosexuality secret, Tongo tries to bribe him, the car jacking is staged by Tongo and the only way he can implicate Dewani is with this story! He gets a reduced sentence, blame is passed to Dewani, Dewani’s shame for both the death of his wife and his inability to accept who he is becomes the reason he is hav ing a mental breakdown.
All speculation I know, but the there is so much hidden in this case.
It all comes back to the real coonection between Dewani and Tongo – was he really able to arrive at an airport in SA and hire a hitman? Or are we not being told about any prior connection between the two.
http://dewanimystery.blogspot.com/2011/08/shrien-dewani-full-judgement-but-we-are.html
This is a very sad story, I am in touch with a journalist who knows there is a lot more to come out about Dewanis private life…To be a homosexual was a disgrace to his family, they thought they could ‘cure him’like having a common cold…as we now know their ignorance cost Anni her life.
http://watchingyouwatchingyme-steelmagnolia.blogspot.com/2010/12/dewanismart-like-he-was-coming-out-of.html
In reply to Big Daddy it looks as though the car was hired in London.
http://dewanimystery.blogspot.com/2011/08/preyen-dewani-lets-take-closer-look-at.html
Preyen Dewani is an interesting character and it helps to freshen ones mind of the events very early on in this crime.Preyen tells the story as if it were he himself who was in the car with Anni and not his brother Shrien. Curious.