Honeymoon widower Shrien Dewani may use South African police bungles to avoid extradition

by Steve White, Daily Mirror 20/12/2010

LAWYERS for honeymoon widower Shrien Dewani could use past allegations of corruption against South African police to prevent his extradition.

Mr Dewani, 30, has told of fears detectives want to “stitch him up” over the murder of his new bride, Anni, 28, last month.

Now William Booth, one of South Africa’s top lawyers, says Mr Dewani’s team should investigate two cases where defendants were cleared after evidence was allegedly tampered with by police.

He said: “It’s been established in South Africa that there’s manipulation of evidence – that goes to the heart of the investigation and the prosecution.”

Fred van der Vyver and Glenn Agliotti were acquitted of murder in 2005 after evidence against them was ruled unsafe.

This comes as Mr Dewani’s family insisted they have “good relations” with Anni’s relatives.

A spokesman said: “Both families are stressed out by these allegations.

“Shrien is distraught. He can’t sleep, he can’t eat, he keeps getting flashbacks.”

Anni was found dead in an abandoned taxi with a bullet wound to her neck in Cape Town last month.

Taxi driver Zola Tongo, in jail for his role in the murder, claims Mr Dewani, of Bristol, paid him £1,400 to kill his wife.

Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/12/20/honeymoon-widower-shrien-dewani-may-use-south-african-police-bungles-to-avoid-extradition-115875-22795111/#ixzz18mEJBeI4
Go Camping for 95p! Vouchers collectable in the Daily and Sunday Mirror until 11th August . Click here for more information