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Shrien Dewani has been found not guilty of arranging the murder of his wife, Swedish national Anni Dewan
British businessman Shrien Dewani has been cleared of murdering his wife during their South Africa honeymoon, after the judge threw out the case.
Judge Jeanette Traverso said the evidence presented by the prosecution fell “far below the threshold” of what a reasonable court could convict on.
She said the evidence of the prosecution’s main witness was “riddled with contradictions”.
Anni’s family said they had been failed by the justice system.
Announcing her ruling, the judge said the only reason not to grant the application would be in the hope that Mr Dewani would implicate himself if he gave evidence.
But to do so would be a “manifest misdirection”, she said.
Ami Denborg, the sister of Anni Dewani weeps as she walks away after making a statement expressing the family’s shock at the South African justice system
He listened intently as key evidence against him was criticised by the judge as she gave her ruling over almost three hours.
Mr Dewani, 34, went straight down to the cells to prepare for his release, following the decision, as his family embraced.
It is believed he left the court, without making a comment, through a side entrance.
Mrs Dewani’s family, who had said it would it be a “nightmare” if the trial did not continue, immediately left the court room.
Prosecutors said bisexual Mr Dewani had long planned to get out of the relationship to Swedish-raised Anni
They bowed their heads amid shouting from the public gallery.
Speaking outside the Western Cape high Court, Mrs Dewani’s sister Ami Denborg said: “Today we feel as a family that the justice system has failed us and we are deeply disappointed.
“We came here looking for answers and we came here looking for the truth and all we got was more questions.
“We waited patiently for four years to hear what really happened to Anni and to hear the full story of what happened to our dearest little sister.
“All we wanted was to hear all the events and the hope of actually finding that out has kept us, as a family, going.
“Unfortunately we believe that this right has now been taken away from us.”
Her uncle, Ashok Hindocha said the family would be going through the case with their lawyers to confirm whether they can file a lawsuit against Mr Dewani in the UK.
“We would have preferred to have known about his sexuality before he married our precious Anni,” he said.
BBC