Leila Samodien
DAYS before Western Cape Deputy Judge President Jeanette Traverso is to rule on honeymoon murder accused Shrien Dewani’s discharge application, the family of his slain wife Anni has made a plea for the “full story” about her murder.
The family has also distanced itself from a petition calling for Judge Traverso’s removal from the case, saying they had “nothing to do with it”, and touched on recent media reports that they planned to sue Dewani.
At a press conference yesterday, Anni’s brother, Anish Hindocha, read out a statement saying it would be a “terrible development” in what had been a four-year wait if they and the people of South Africa were “not afforded the full story”.
UK businessman Dewani stands accused of orchestrating Anni’s murder in a staged hijacking in November 2010. The newlyweds were in Cape Town at the time.
Hindocha said Dewani had insisted all along that he wanted to clear his name and had “dozens of times” told the court, through his lawyer, that he would help the court with his own version of events.
“Well, let’s have him tell it then,” said Hindocha. “This has been his pledge throughout the trial and it would be wrong for him to walk away from South Africa without explaining himself (as to) what happened on the night my sister was murdered in this country.”
Speaking on reports the family planned to take legal action against Dewani after the trial, he said their motivation was never financial.
The press conference was also held amid media reports over a transcript of a recording – which was secretly made by Anni’s cousin and confidant, Sneha Mashru – between members of the Hindocha and Dewani families, including Shrien.
Although parts of the transcript were highlighted in court, the full transcript, which appears to set out the discussion and contain remarks by Dewani’s brother Preyen, was not read out.