News / Crime
Dewani inquest ‘unlikely to go ahead’
An inquest into the murder of honeymoon bride Anni Dewani is unlikely to go ahead, a coroner has said.
Bristol businessman Shrien Dewani was cleared at a trial last year after being extradited to South Africa, where Anni was shot in a botched hijacking in November 2010.
Shrien was accused by South African prosecutors of arranging the death of his new wife.
Coroner Andrew Walker said at a hearing at North London Coroner’s Court on Wednesday that an inquest would serve no purpose unless Shrien agreed to answer questions.
Anni’s father Vinod Hindocha, and uncle Ashok Hindocha argued at the hearing that Shrien should be ordered to attend an inquest and answer questions.
But Shrien has a right not to respond to anything that may incriminate him.
Mr Walker said “it would serve no purpose to hold an inquest because I would not be able to answer the questions that an inquest sets out to answer”, the BBC reported.
He added that questions should be sent to Shrien to get an indication of whether he might answer them before an inquest could be scheduled.
Another hearing into the matter will take place on October 9.
Anni’s family say they are still seeking answers despite three men being jailed for her murder last year.
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