Dewani honeymoon murder: Husband denies role in 2007 killing

LONDON - A spokesman for British Indian millionaire Shrien Dewani, who has been arrested on suspicion of having his wife, Anni, killed during their honeymoon in Cape Town, South Africa, has denied his involvement in a second killing that took place in 2007.

Rejecting South African National Commissioner General Bheki Cele’s charge that Shrien Dewani was involved in the murder of Dr. Px Raghavjee, his spokesman, Max Clifford, branded the claim as fabrication and a politically-motivated smear to protect South Africa’s tourism industry.

Clifford, who has been hired as Dewani’s spokesman, was quoted by The Telegraph, as saying: “The South African police are orchestrating a politically-motivated smear campaign to protect their tourism industry. It’s a total fabrication. How flimsy and ridiculous this whole thing is. If it wasn’t so tragic it would be a farce, a comedy.”

Shrien Dewani, a resident of Bristol, faces extradition to South Africa after his wife Anni, 28, was shot during their honeymoon in Cape Town last month.

South African Police are claiming that he paid two hit-men to kill his bride in a sham carjacking, although the motive remains unclear.

Dr Raghavjee was also murdered in a carjacking near his home in King William’s Town, 650 miles from Cape Town.

Police at the time ruled out robbery as a motive because neither his car nor valuables were taken.

Clifford insisted that Shrien Dewani, released from prison last week after a High Court hearing on 250,000 pounds bail, had never previously travelled to South Africa until his honeymoon, and that his passport proved that.

He is now “petrified” of being forced to return to South Africa where he is convinced he will not receive a fair trial. Dewani has not been charged with any offence. (ANI)