Tuesday 7 December 2010

SA honeymoon man 'plotted murder'

Anni Dewani and Shrien DewaniThe Dewanis had been married for two weeks

The husband of a woman murdered on her honeymoon in South Africa plotted his wife's death, one of the men charged with her killing has told prosecutors.

Anni Dewani, 28, from Sweden, was shot after being kidnapped while in a taxi with her husband Shrien last month.

A Cape Town court heard taxi driver Zola Tongo had alleged he was offered 15,000 rand (£1,345) by Mr Dewani, 31, from Bristol, to kill his wife.

Mr Dewani's family described the allegations as "totally ludicrous".

Tongo, 31, has been jailed for 18 years after agreeing a plea bargain.

He was charged with murder along with Xolile Mnguni, 23, and Mziwamadoda Qwabe, 25.

The BBC's southern Africa correspondent Karen Allen said the claims were made by Tongo as part of the plea bargain agreement with the State.

She said: "He claims he was paid the equivalent of £1,500 to kill her.

"His allegations will have to be tested at trial where he's expected to appear as a state witness.

"Meanwhile Zola Tongo has been sentenced to 18 years in prison with immediate effect. It's not yet clear if and when Shrien Dewani will be extradited to South Africa to face trial."

Zola Tongo Taxi driver Zola Tongo was sentenced to 18 years after agreeing a plea bargain

Mrs Dewani was kidnapped while the taxi was travelling through Gugulethu township on 13 November.

Her body was found inside the abandoned taxi the following day. Her wristwatch, a white-gold and diamond bracelet, her handbag and her mobile phone were stolen.

Mr Dewani, from Westbury-on-Trym in Bristol, was released unharmed. The couple had been married for two weeks.

Mr Mnguni and Mr Qwabe will appear before Wynberg Regional Court on 25 February before a full trial at Western Cape High Court at a later date.

In a statement, Mr Dewani's family said: "Shrien is wholly innocent of any involvement in this heinous crime.

"These allegations are totally ludicrous, extremely convenient for South Africa and very hurtful to a young man who is grieving the loss of the woman he loved, his chosen life partner.

"The South African police have not even sought to speak to Mr Dewani regarding the allegations. Instead two weeks has been spent 'negotiating' this confession from the taxi driver whilst the others accused have complained of torture and forced confessions."

Mr Dewani returned to the UK after his wife's death.

Publicist Max Clifford, who has been acting on behalf of Mr Dewani, described Mr Tongo's claim as the latest in a string of false allegations against him.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-bristol-11937170

Ty Manger Janice Russe Reynaldo Siciliano Johana Zoltek

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