THE family of murdered bride Anni Dewani have said their “battle” will continue after a coroner ruled there is no “sufficient cause to resume an inquest” into her death.
Millionaire businessman Shrien Dewani was cleared last year of orchestrating the honeymoon killing of his 28-y ear-old wife, who was shot as the couple drove through the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, on November 14, 2010.
Mrs Dewani’s family argued that there were still many unanswered questions about how she was killed and asked for a full inquest to resume.
But at North London Coroner’s Court, Senior Coroner Andrew Walker said: “The fact that there are differing accounts of how Mrs Dewani came by her death does not, in my view, mean that the matters have not already been sufficiently established in public proceedings.”
He added that if new evidence, beyond that which already exists, comes to light, it would be open to the family to write to the Attorney General and request that matters be reopened.
Mr Walker told the court that he was “prohibited” from reaching a conclusion which was inconsistent with the findings of the South African courts.
Mr Dewani, 34, did not attend the hearing, but wrote a letter which was read by his wife’s father, Vinod Hindocha, 66, and uncle, Ashok Hindocha, 55. He was extradited to South Africa last year, but the case collapsed after a judge found that it was “riddled with inconsistencies”.
It meant he walked free before having to give evidence and he has never spoken publicly about what happened.
In a statement read out to the court, Mr Dewani described himself as “bisexual” and admitted he had slept with male prostitutes.
A key witness for the prosecution was a male escort who went by the name The German Master, but his evidence was ruled inadmissible.
Three men – Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni – were given jail terms for their role in Mrs Dewani’s killing.
Speaking outside the court, Ashok Hindocha said the family still have options available to them and that their “battle” will continue.
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