This is how events in the Dewani honeymoon murder case have unfolded so far, based on court documents and interviews, leading up to his extradition hearing set to start today:
- October 29, Mumbai: Shrien Dewani marries Anni Hindocha.
- November 9 to 12: Mpumalanga: The honeymooning couple stay at the Chitwa Chitwa Private Game Lodge at the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
- November 12, Cape Town: The couple arrive. Dewani allegedly asks Zola Robert Tongo, who is chauffeuring them, if he can help him organise hit men to kill a woman.
Later that day, Tongo is put in touch with Mziwamadoda Qwabe.
- November 13, Cape Town: Tongo says he and Dewani discuss Anni’s murder. Later, Tongo meets accused number two, Qwabe, and the third local accused in the case, Xolile Mngeni, and they plan the killing. That evening, Tongo is about 30 minutes late picking up the Dewanis.
- After 8pm, Tongo drives the couple to Gugulethu, but the hit men are not there.
Tongo takes them to Strand and, while the couple eat, a new time for the staged “hijacking” is set.
- November 13, Gugulethu: After they have had supper, Tongo takes the couple back to Gugulethu. The hijacking occurs and Tongo and Dewani are forced from Tongo’s car unharmed.
- November 14, Khayelitsha: Anni’s body, with a bullet wound to the neck, is found in the abandoned car.
- November 16, Cape Town: Dewani hands R1 000 to Tongo, allegedly for his part in Anni’s murder. This transaction is reportedly caught on CCTV.
Mngeni is arrested.
- November 17, Cape Town: Dewani reportedly leaves Cape Town and returns to the UK.
- November 18, Cape Town: Qwabe is arrested in connection with the killing.
Mngeni appears in the Wynberg Regional Court charged with murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
- November 20, Cape Town: Tongo is arrested.
- November 21, UK: Memorial service is held for Anni.
- November 22, Cape Town: Tongo and Qwabe appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court.
- November 27: At an identity parade, two witnesses point out the three accused.
- November 29, Cape Town: Mngeni, Tongo and Qwabe appear in court together for the first time. It emerges that Tongo is going ahead with a plea agreement.
- December 6: It emerges Tongo will stand trial in the Western Cape High Court the next day.
- December 7, Cape Town: Anni’s father, Vinod Hindocha, is in court when Tongo appears. Tongo says Dewani offered R15 000 to have a hit on his wife organised.
Tongo is sentenced to 18 years in jail for his role in Anni’s murder.
An arrest warrant is issued for Dewani.
- December 7, UK: Dewani, who claims he is innocent, hands himself in at a Bristol police station and is arrested.
- December 8, UK: Dewani appears in the City of Westminster Magistrate’s Court in London. He is granted R2.7 million bail, but South African authorities appeal and he is kept in custody.
- December 10, London: Dewani is granted bail in the High Court.
- December 14, Sweden: Hindocha extends a message to Dewani: “Go to South Africa and do it. Let the world know what happened.”
- February 2, Cape Town: Mngeni and Qwabe appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court and an affidavit emerges detailing how Anni was shot. It says Mngeni pulled the trigger.
- February 19-20, Bristol: Dewani allegedly tries to commit suicide with an overdose of pills and is taken to the nearby Royal British Infirmary.
- March 2, Cape Town: Anni’s parents retrace her last journey in the hours before her murder. In Khayelitsha, where her body was found, they participate in a traditional Hindu ceremony to say goodbye to her.
- March 16: South African authorities want Dewani remanded in custody. During a court appearance it is decided Dewani, said to be suffering from post-traumatic stress, be admitted to The Priory, a psychiatric facility in Bristol.
- April 10: Dewani breaks his bail conditions at The Priory. He is arrested.
- April 11: Dewani appears in court and a judge orders he be admitted to the Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke in Somerset, another psychiatric facility. - Cape Times