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No inquest into murder of British-Indian businessman's wife

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IANS London

A British official on Friday ruled that there would be no inquest into the death of British-Indian businessman Shrien Dewani's wife who was murdered while honeymooning in South Africa in 2010, a media report said.

"I don't have sufficient cause to resume an inquest. In these proceedings, the matter will now rest," the Daily Mail quoted Andrew Walker, senior coroner at North London Coroner's Court, as saying.

A South African court last year acquitted Shrien Dewani of ordering the murder of his wife, Anni Dewani, 28, who was shot on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010 during their honeymoon.

 

The murdered woman's family had argued there were still many unanswered questions about how she was killed and demanded a full inquest to resume in Britain.

Three men -- Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and gunman Xolile Mngeni -- have already been convicted for their part in the murder that occurred during a late-night tour of a township when their chauffeur-driven car was hijacked.

Shrien Dewani was extradited from Britain in April last year to stand trial for his wife's murder.

He faced five counts, including kidnapping, murder, and defeating the ends of justice, and has pleaded not guilty to all of them.

He maintained that he and his wife were the victims of a hijacking on November 13, 2010.

Deputy Judge President Jeanette Traverso of the Western Cape High Court dismissed the case against him, after describing evidence from prosecution witnesses as "riddled with contradictions".

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First Published: Oct 09 2015 | 5:20 PM IST

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