Oscar Pistorius prosecutors fear "another Shrien Dewani" if athlete granted bail

PROSECUTORS in South Africa have argued that suspected murderer Oscar Pistorius should not be granted bail because they fear they another “Dewani will happen”.

On the second day of the athlete’s bail hearing the prosecution team pointed to the case of Bristol businessman Shrien Dewani who is accused of plotting to have his wife murdered on their honeymoon.

Pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Thursday morning following a row at his home.

Prosecutors fear Pistorius will flee the country if granted bail.

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Dewani is currently in hospital in the UK but is wanted to stand trial for the murder of his wife Anni by the South African authorities.

The 26-year-old athlete has claimed the shooting was a tragic mistake but the prosecution team outlined their case yesterday and claimed there had been shouting at the apartment in the run-up to the tragedy.

Investigating officer Hilton Botha was giving evidence this morning and described the world famous paralympian as a flight risk.

When Mr Botha was asked why he was opposed bail being granted he replied: “Pistorius could be a flight risk. It is a serious crime, a serious matter.

“We don't want another Dewani to happen. We are still waiting to get him back in the country.”

He was referring to Shrien Dewani, who is wanted in South Africa over the murder of his wife in November 2010, but is now fighting extradition in Britain.

The businessman is currently in a hospital in the UK but his family fear he will struggle to get a fair trial if he is extradited to South Africa.

Dewani was being treated in a mental health hospital for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ahead of extradition.

But his family said he had been transferred to hospital after “suffering from chest pains” and reacting poorly to medication.

Dewani’s 28-year-old wife Anni was shot when a taxi the couple were travelling in was hijacked in the Gugulethu township on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010.

A statement from the Dewani family said: “Shrien’s health has seriously deteriorated. He was admitted to hospital last weekend suffering from severe chest pains. He also has a raised creatine kinase level, indicative of another poor reaction to the medication he is being prescribed to improve his mental health.

“We are relieved that doctors have managed to stabilise him. We are extremely grateful for the swift action of the hospital staff and are hopeful of a recovery.”

A hitman allegedly hired by Dewani was sentenced to life in December for the murder of Anni Dewani.

But Vinod Hindocha, the father of murdered Anni, is not convinced.

"He will do anything to avoid trial, that's all I can say," he said from his home in Sweden.

"If his health is not improving in the UK then he might as well come to South Africa and get treatment. Doctors in South Africa are equally good."