London - Honeymoon murder accused Shrien Dewani is not fit to plead, but this should not stop the extradition process, the South African government's lawyer Hugo Keith QC told a London court on Monday.
The British Press Association reported that Dewani's mental health had improved and he had talked about returning to South Africa to fight a murder charge.
His depression was now moderate, and not severe.
Dewani, 33, is accused of orchestrating the murder of his wife Anni, who was shot while visiting Gugulethu, Cape Town, in November 2010, and faces extradition to South Africa for trial.
He has denied any involvement in her murder.
Anni's father Vinod Hindocha, sister Ami Denborg and brother Anish Hindocha were watching from the gallery in the Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday with other relatives as the five-day extradition hearing began.
Dewani was excused from attending the hearing, but his father Prakash and brother Preyen were at the court.
His lawyers have previously claimed he would be a high suicide risk if extradited, and that his human rights could be violated due to the risk of being attacked and sexually assaulted in a South African prison, and potentially contracting HIV or Aids.
Dewani was ordered to return to the country in 2011, but this was successfully appealed and judges ordered that Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle had to look at the case again. - Sapa