Indian-origin businessman Shrien Dewani, extradited to South Africa from the UK to face murder charges in the killing of his Indo-Swedish wife, will stand trial on October 6 if a panel of psychiatrists deems him mentally stable, a court here ruled today.
Dewani made his third appearance in the high court today since his extradition from Britain in April after he lost a three-year battle to avoid standing trial here.
A tired-looking Dewani made his appearance before Judge President John Hlophe, who received an update on his progress since being detained at Valkenberg Hospital in April.
Director of Public Prosecutions Rodney de Kock brought an application for Dewani's mental health to be officially observed in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act.
The prosecution applied for the 30-day test after it considered two separate reports which differed from each other.
One report was from the head of the Valkenberg facility where Dewani has been receiving treatment and the other from his own psychiatrist.
Dewani, 34, will now be assessed independently by three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist who will report back to the court, which will then decide whether the matter should be heard.
De Kock said the State and defence had also set down a provisional trial date of October 6.
Dewani's lawyer Francois van Zyl did not oppose the application, saying, "The accused will be ready, fit to plead for the trial to proceed on 6th October, but of course it is subject to what the panel finds."
De Kock asked that the matter be postponed until August 15, in which time Dewani would be detained for observation.
Dewani is charged with the November 2010 murder of his bride Anni while they were on honeymoon in Cape Town.
He is charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.
His new wife Anni died when she was shot in the neck as the couple traveled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town.
Dewani claimed he and his wife were kidnapped at gunpoint as they drove through Gugulethu in Cape Town.
He was released unharmed, but his wife's body was found in the abandoned car the next day.
Dewani was brought to South Africa a month ago after fighting extradition for three years, claiming that he has severe depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
