Dewani accused on trial

A witness has describes details of how the murder of Annie Dewani was planned during the trial of Xolile Mngeni, who is accused of the honeymooner's murder.

A witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has said that on the eve of Annie's murder he was approached by Zola Tongo, a taxi driver who has already been convicted over the murder, who told him that there was, “a gentleman who wanted to kill a woman”.

The prosecution maintain that this person was Annie's new husband Shrien Dewani, who remains in the UK pending ongoing extradition proceedings.

The man accused of firing the gun that killed honeymooner Anni Dewani has entered a formal not guilty plea at a South African court.

A judge previously declared Xolile Mngeni was fit enough to stand trial despite suffering a malignant brain tumour.

The man accused of firing the gun that killed honeymooner Anni Dewani is due to go on trial today in South Africa.

A judge previously declared Xolile Mngeni was fit enough to stand trial despite suffering a malignant brain tumour.

Mrs Dewani, who was 28, was shot dead and her body found in an abandoned taxi in Cape Town's impoverished Gugulethu township, while on her honeymoon, in November 2010.

South African Mziwamadoda Qwabe has already pleaded guilty to kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, and illegal possession of firearm in connection with the death of Mrs Dewani. He was jailed for 25 years.

Mrs Dewani's husband Shrien is accused of arranging the contract killing of his wife, which he denies. He is currently being treated for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

An update on his health is to be presented to the courts in September to see whether he is fit for extradition to South Africa.

The man accused of firing the gun that killed Anni Dewani is fit enough to stand trial despite suffering a malignant brain tumour.

A Cape Town judge ruled the trial could proceed even though Xolile Mngeni struggles to concentrate. Mngeni arrived in court today with the help of a Zimmer frame.

Xolile Mngeni's trial has been postponed several times because of his poor health. In June last year he had surgery to remove a brain tumour. Mngeni's legal team questioned if he would be fit enough to stand trail.

Xolile Mngeni, the man accused of firing the shot that killed Anni Dewani, is due to go on trial in Cape Town today. The newlywed was killed while on honeymoon there in November 2010.

Xolile Mngeni is appearing after his co-accused, hitman Mziwamadoda Qwabe, admitted to the killing and was jailed for 25 years.

Anni Dewani's husband Shrien is fighting extradition from Britain over her murder and has always denied any involvement in her death.

The uncle of Anni Dewani, the British bride who was killed on honeymoon in South Africa, has said that the latest conviction is a step forward, but that there are still lots of unanswered questions.

In a phone interview with ITV News, Ashok Hindocha said the past 21 months have been "legal torture" for the family.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe was given a 25 year prison sentence for his involvement in the murder of Anni Dewani after he promised to cooperate with prosecutors, officials said today.

Part of Qwabe's plea agreement requires him to testify against other people accused in the case, including Mrs Dewani's husband, Shrien.

Mr Dewani is accused of hiring Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni - who still faces charges - to kill his new wife while they were on their honeymoon in Cape Town.

A British court heard last week that Mr Dewani needed a year to recover from depression before he would be able to face extradition proceedings.

He has been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and severe depression, and his lawyers argue that his health and life will be at risk if he is extradited to South Africa to face trial.

Mr Dewani, from Bristol, is due at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 18 when the chief magistrate, Howard Riddle, will be given an update on his condition.

Mr Dewani claims he and his wife were hijacked while travelling in a taxi through Cape Town in November 2010. While he was ejected from the vehicle, Mrs Dewani was later found murdered in the abandoned taxi.

He was allowed to leave South Africa before the taxi driver, Zola Tonga, claimed the newlywed had offered him 15,000 rand (around £1,200) to arrange the killing and make it look like a carjacking.

The family of murdered British honeymooner Anni Dewani has expressed happiness over today's conviction.

However, they said the full truth of "what really happened" to Mrs Dewani would not be known until her husband, Shrien Dewani, travels to South Africa to face trial.