A suspect in the murder of honeymoon bride Anni Dewani in Cape Town implicated her British husband today.
South Africa’s News24, citing initial details from a plea deal by one of the South African suspects, said that Shrien Dewani paid to have his wife killed.
Mr Dewani has denied any involvement in his wife’s murder.
Zola Tongo claimed Mr Dewani approached him about killing his new wife the day the couple arrived in South Africa. Swedish-born Mrs Dewani’s body was found the next day in a Cape Town township; she had been shot in the back of the neck.
Mr Tongo said he drove the couple from the airport to their hotel on November 13th.
Once his wife was out of earshot, the driver said Mr Dewani asked if he could find someone to kill her. Mr Tongo said Mr Dewani offered 50,000 rand each but paid only 1,000.
The case has drawn wide attention in Britain and in South Africa, where crime is high but attacks on foreign tourists are rare.
As a result of his plea bargain, Mr Tongo was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison. He was expected to give evidence against the other suspects, including two South Africans who were arrested soon after Mrs Dewani’s body was discovered.
Mr Dewani had told authorities the couple was returning to their hotel from dinner when gunmen forced him and the driver from the vehicle.
AP