Dewani appeals to UK court to block extradition to South Africa

Johannesburg – Honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani’s lawyers have appealed to the UK judges to block his extradition to South Africa until he is fit to stand trial.

The appeal addressed two key issues that whether a person who is unfit to plead is “an accused” and whether it’s “unjust to extradite a person who is agreed at the time of the determination to be unfit”, News24 reports.

Dewani is presently fighting removal to face trial over his wife Anni’s death until he has recovered from mental health problems, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, the report added.

Shrien is accused of hiring a hitman to kill his newly wedded wife Anni Shrien Dewani, who was shot dead as the couple travelled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010.

Shrien has been compulsorily detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983, with his annual review due in May 2014.