HOSTILE comments on Facebook and news websites slandering honeymoon murder-accused Shrien Dewani were presented to court yesterday to help in his fight against extradition to South Africa.
A bundle of comments - many of them translated from Afrikaans - was handed to magistrate Howard Riddle in the Belmarsh magistrate's court by Dewani's defence lawyer Clare Montgomery, QC.
The comments, described by Montgomery as "hostile" and "nasty", were found on Facebook, other social networking websites and news websites.
Most stated that Dewani will be raped in prison or "get sex for free" once found guilty in South Africa.
Dewani, 31, is being accused of conspiracy to kidnap and murder his newlywed wife Anni, 28, in November last year while on honeymoon in Cape Town.
Hugo Keith QC, acting for the South African government, said he agreed the comments were "shocking and appalling" but "people can say truly terrible things on the Internet".
He presented the court with a statement from the director of public prosecutions in Western Cape, Rodney de Kock, who was in court.
The statement dealt with Dewani's fear that he would not receive a fair trial in South Africa after highly publicised comments by the national director of public prosecutions, Menzi Simelane, and national police commissioner General Bheki Cele.
The extradition hearing was postponed to July 18 and set down for four more days.
Dewani internet defence
HOSTILE comments on Facebook and news websites slandering honeymoon murder-accused Shrien Dewani were presented to court yesterday to help in his fight against extradition to South Africa.
A bundle of comments - many of them translated from Afrikaans - was handed to magistrate Howard Riddle in the Belmarsh magistrate's court by Dewani's defence lawyer Clare Montgomery, QC.
The comments, described by Montgomery as "hostile" and "nasty", were found on Facebook, other social networking websites and news websites.
Most stated that Dewani will be raped in prison or "get sex for free" once found guilty in South Africa.
Dewani, 31, is being accused of conspiracy to kidnap and murder his newlywed wife Anni, 28, in November last year while on honeymoon in Cape Town.
Hugo Keith QC, acting for the South African government, said he agreed the comments were "shocking and appalling" but "people can say truly terrible things on the Internet".
He presented the court with a statement from the director of public prosecutions in Western Cape, Rodney de Kock, who was in court.
The statement dealt with Dewani's fear that he would not receive a fair trial in South Africa after highly publicised comments by the national director of public prosecutions, Menzi Simelane, and national police commissioner General Bheki Cele.
The extradition hearing was postponed to July 18 and set down for four more days.
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