Shrien Dewani Cleared Of Wife’s Murder in South Africa

British man Shrien Dewani has been cleared of planning to murder his bride Anni Dewani, who was killed during the couple’s honeymoon to Capetown in November 2010. The dramatic u-turn came after the judge dismissed the evidence of the chief prosecution witness. Judge Jeanette Traverso dismissed the case today, telling the court: “The accused is found not guilty of this charge.” The decision was made after Judge Traverso ruled that taxi driver Zola Tongo’s claims about the murder of bride Anni were “riddled with contradictions” and “highly debatable” – saying the evidence “fell far below” the required threshold for prosecution. The judge told the Capetown court that the evidence from the three criminals already convicted of the murder was “so improbable, with so many mistakes, lies and inconsistencies you cannot see where the lies ended and the truth begins”. The decision came following an application from Dewani’s lawyer, with the judge declaring the only reason not to dismiss the case would be in the hope that Dewani would implicate himself when giving evidence. She later added that it would be a “manifest misdirection” to allow the case to continue. As well as dismissing the case against Shrien Dewani, The Guardian reports that Judge Traverso said that Monde Mbolombo – who gave evidence as the “middle man” in the alleged plot – would not be granted immunity for his part in the murder. Hotel porter Mbolombo admitted to telling lies to the court to protect himself in earlier stages of the investigation. He had been granted immunity by prosecutors in return for being a state witness. Dewani was extradited this year to face trial, accused of planning the murder of his wife in 2010. Following the news of the decision to dismiss the case, the family of Anni Dewani released a statement outside the court, saying: “We feel really, really sad because we have not heard the full story. Shrien lived a double life.” Anni’s family begged for their son-in-law to take to the witness stand and “tell the world what happened the night she died.” Anni was found dead in the back of a taxi on November 14th 2010 when the Dewanis’ chauffeur-driven late-night tour of a township was hijacked. Prosecutors believed Dewani had planned the kidnap and murder of, then, 28-year-old Anni. Three men – Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and gunman Xolile Mngeni – have already been convicted for their part in Anni’s murder. Dewani always denied plotting his wife's murder with the three men. The 34-year old businessman has undergone mental health checks and fought extradition from the UK to face trial during the four years since the murder. Dewani has not yet commented on the dismissal of his murder charge.