Judge gives go ahead for Dewani extradition
A judge at a London court on Wednesday ruled that a British man can be extradited to South Africa to face trial for the murder of his Swedish bride but he referred the case to the home secretary for a final decision.
"I must send this case to the Secretary of State for a decision to determine whether he is to be extradited," said District Judge Howard Riddle in his ruling on," said magistrate Howard Riddle in his ruling on 31-year-old Shrien Dewani.
The judge said there would be "undoubted hardship" for Dewani if he were extradited to South Africa.
"However, when all relevant factors are considered, the risk of hardship falls short of oppression. The public interest in extradition and trial outweighs the competing hardship," Riddle told Belmarsh Magistrates Court in London.
South African authorities want Dewani, from Bristol in southwest England, to be sent back to the country so he can be put on trial for the murder of his Swedish-born wife Anni, 28, in Cape Town last November.
The newlyweds were being driven through the dangerous township of Gugulethu when their taxi was hijacked on November 13th. Dewani was thrown out of the
vehicle while his wife was driven off and shot dead.
Dewani apparently told a witness that he "needed a way out" of his marriage to Anni.
He denies any involvement and has fought extradition proceedings, arguing that he is suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and is too unwell to be extradited.
A spokesperson for the Home Office, or interior ministry, said the court had found "there were no statutory bars" to Dewani's extradition, but added: "The secretary of state will now decide whether to order his extradition."
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"I must send this case to the Secretary of State for a decision to determine whether he is to be extradited," said District Judge Howard Riddle in his ruling on," said magistrate Howard Riddle in his ruling on 31-year-old Shrien Dewani.
The judge said there would be "undoubted hardship" for Dewani if he were extradited to South Africa.
"However, when all relevant factors are considered, the risk of hardship falls short of oppression. The public interest in extradition and trial outweighs the competing hardship," Riddle told Belmarsh Magistrates Court in London.
South African authorities want Dewani, from Bristol in southwest England, to be sent back to the country so he can be put on trial for the murder of his Swedish-born wife Anni, 28, in Cape Town last November.
The newlyweds were being driven through the dangerous township of Gugulethu when their taxi was hijacked on November 13th. Dewani was thrown out of the
vehicle while his wife was driven off and shot dead.
Dewani apparently told a witness that he "needed a way out" of his marriage to Anni.
He denies any involvement and has fought extradition proceedings, arguing that he is suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and is too unwell to be extradited.
A spokesperson for the Home Office, or interior ministry, said the court had found "there were no statutory bars" to Dewani's extradition, but added: "The secretary of state will now decide whether to order his extradition."
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