Shrien Dewani 'aims to clear his name in South Africa'

SHRIEN Dewani still wants to go back to South Africa to clear his name.

The Bristol businessman who is accused of arranging the murder of his wife Anni on their honeymoon in 2010 is currently in Fromeside Clinic suffering from post-traumatic distress disorder, depression and has been deemed a suicide risk.

The South African authorities want the 32-year-old, pictured, extradited to stand trial for murder, but two High Court judges ordered earlier this year that he was not in a fit mental state to go back.

And as Home Secretary Theresa May made a landmark ruling over the extradition of Gary McKinnon – ordering the Asperger's sufferer should not go to America to answer computer hacking charges because he could be suicidal – the Post has been told Mr Dewani still wants to be extradited.

5 O'CLOCKTAILS

Brasserie Blanc

View details

Print voucher

This week's delicious £5 5 O'CLOCKTAIL is a refreshing Tequila Sunrise. Available everyday from our Bar for only £5 between 5pm & 7pm.

Terms: £5 cocktail applies to the cocktail of the week.

Contact: 0117 2448281

Valid until: Monday, May 27 2013

A source close to the family said: "Shrien has always wanted to go back and clear his name in a court of law in South Africa. But the key is being able to do that safely, with Shrien's health and security protected."

The family would not want him to "languish" in a South African jail for months or even years, awaiting trial.

They would be satisfied for him to be extradited if his mental health was good enough and he could feel secure under some kind of "house arrest" while he answered the charges he strenuously denies.

Referring to the McKinnon case, the source added: "The family welcomes the Home Secretary's decision because what it does do is show that there are clear considerations she has before ordering someone's extradition outside of the UK.

"Theresa May appears to want to make sure the rights of British citizens are protected if they are extradited.

"But in Shrien's case it is not that he doesn't want to go. The family wants to ensure that if he does go back to South Africa, he is afforded the protection he needs."

Mrs Dewani, 28, was shot dead and her body found in an abandoned taxi in Cape Town's impoverished Gugulethu township in November 2010.

Taxi driver Zola Tongo had driven the newlyweds to the impoverished area.

He and Dewani were thrown out of the car by hijackers before Mrs Dewani was driven away and killed.

Tongo, 31, from Cape Town, admitted his part in the killing and was jailed for 18 years as part of a plea bargain.

One of the gunmen, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, has admitted his part in the crime while the trial of another alleged murderer, Xolile Mngeni, is still ongoing.

Mr Dewani, of Westbury-on-Trym, is accused of arranging her contract killing but has always strenuously denied any conspiracy.

An order for Dewani's extradition was signed by Home Secretary Theresa May in September 2011, but on March 30, two High Court judges ruled it would be "unjust and oppressive" to extradite him now, but said it was in the interests of justice to do so as soon as he is fit.

He has been given time to recover from his mental illness before being able to deal with his possible extradition to South Africa.

The courts are also awaiting a report by a psychiatrist employed by the South African authorities on his mental health.