Honeymoon murder accused Shrien Dewani's extradition appeal begins in London on Tuesday, amid new claims that police have failed to investigate the case properly.
Lawyers fighting Dewani's extradition are likely to point to police shortcomings to argue that he is being treated unfairly and should not be sent to face murder charges in South Africa.
The two-day hearing begins in London's high court on Tuesday, in the latest round of Dewani's legal battle to stay in the United Kingdom.
However, the 31-year-old from Bristol will not be attending because he is receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder at a secure mental institution near his home.
According to reports by Britain's Guardian newspaper, police investigating the murder of Anni Dewani have yet to complete their investigation – more than a year after her death.
Still investigating
Despite having named Shrien, Anni's British husband, as the prime suspect last December, detectives are still gathering evidence.
Officers from the Hawks priority crime unit have contacted at least two new witnesses in recent weeks to take statements.
Last month they tried to take blood samples from two men who have spent more than a year in prison awaiting trial in connection with the case.
Officers have also yet to take a statement from a witness whose evidence could prove crucial in establishing the truth about how Anni (28) died. They have also still not interviewed Shrien Dewani, his lawyers have confirmed.
Under the terms of Britain's extradition treaty with South Africa, the quality of their investigation has no bearing on the strength of an extradition application, but Dewani's legal team is expected to use the apparent gaps in evidence as proof that he is being treated unfairly.
Honeymoon hijack and 'hit'
Anni was killed on November 13 2010 after the taxi in which she and her husband of just two weeks were travelling was hijacked as it passed through the Gugulethu township on the outskirts of Cape Town.
The taxi's driver, Zola Tongo (31) admitted that he set up the hijack, but claimed he did so at the behest of Dewani. He is serving 18 years in prison. Mziwamadoda Qwabe (25) and Xolile Mngeni (26) are accused of being the "hitmen" and have spent the past year in prison awaiting trial.
Prosecutors say the evidence against Dewani is "overwhelming".
Tongo's former boss, Christo van Vuuren, has revealed that he has not been asked for a witness statement. He revealed that the taxi driver was a fraudster who had been secretly using his cars to earn extra money. "Basically, he stole from us," said Van Vuuren.
He said that, contrary to the prosecution's claim that Tongo agreed to perform the hit for R5 000, this amount of money would have seemed relatively paltry to Tongo who, Van Vuuren revealed, earned R9 000 a month from his salary, tips and moonlighting work.
Dewani insists he is innocent and that he would be at risk in South Africa. -- © Guardian News and Media 2011, additional reporting by Sapa
Source: Mail and Guardian Online
