SA Prosecutor calls Brit-Indian honeymooner 'guilty fugitive' over wife's murder

Cape Town, Feb 20 (ANI): A South African Director of public prosecutions has claimed that Shrien Dewani, the Brit-Indian millionaire accused of masterminding his wife's murder during their honeymoon in Cape Town last year, is a "fugitive" and guilty of "committing a heinous crime".'

The Independent quoted Menzi Simelane as saying that Dewani had "murdered his wife when he should have been celebrating his honeymoon".

"As a matter of fact, Mr Dewani is a fugitive because he ran away. He ran out of a country [where] there was a warrant of arrest for him. So as a fugitive, we then informed Interpol that we would like an international arrest warrant issued for him. So he was flagged internationally and he can't go anywhere, basically," he added.

Thirty-one-year-old Dewani from Bristol is currently fighting legal moves by South Africa to extradite him to face murder charges in Cape Town.

Shrein's family has refused to comment or criticise the South African authorities, but the family spokesman said: "The matter is the subject of ongoing legal process where Shrien's name will be cleared."

It is believed, however, that lawyers acting for the family will lodge a formal complaint this week about Mr Simelane's comments, the paper said.

Earlier this week, the lawyers of two men arrested over Anni's murder have claimed that the accused were tortured by the South African police to give their statements against her husband.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe, 25, and Xolile Mngeni, 26, were arrested after the body of 28-year-old Anni Dewani was found in the back of a taxi. Both the suspects are in prison awaiting trial for the murder and are due in court next week. (ANI)