South Africa: Honeymoon Slaying Suspect Fit For Trial; Sister Of Victim Happy

Shrien Dewani - Murder Accused (L) Photo credit: News Central; Shrien and Anni Dewani Around Time of Wedding (R) Photo credit: PA

A British man accused of arranging the killing of his wife on their honeymoon in South Africa was on Friday declared fit to stand trial for murder after undergoing psychiatric observation at a Cape Town hospital.

Shrien Dewani is expected to go on trial in early October following a long legal battle during which he was sent to South Africa from Britain in April after years of resisting extradition amid claims he had mental problems. More psychiatric evaluations followed in South Africa, and the conclusions of a mental health panel opened the way for Dewani to face murder and other charges for the 2010 death of his bride, Anni.

"The accused is not mentally ill," the South African Press Association quoted prosecutor Rodney de Kock as saying in the Western Cape High Court. The news agency also quoted defense lawyer Francois van Zyl as saying he did not object to the finding.

Dewani appeared in court during the pre-trial hearing on his mental health. His family members sat in the gallery. He is scheduled to return to court for a pre-trial hearing in September.

Dewani's bride, Anni, was found shot dead in an abandoned taxi in the Cape Town area. Dewani is accused of hiring men to kill her and make it look like a botched carjacking. Three men have been convicted for the murder. 

As Honeymoon murder accused Shrien Dewani has been found fit to stand trial for his wife's murder, a move her sister hailed as "a huge step in the right direction".

A mental health panel in South Africa unanimously decided that the 34-year-old businessman, from Bristol, is not mentally ill and should be tried in October for Anni Dewani's murder in Cape Town.

Her sister Ami Denborg said: " It's a relief for all of us. We've been waiting quite a long time for this. I know this autumn is going to be tough for us but we still want the trial to start so that we can get the information we need, we can get to know what really happened.