TWO South African prosecutors are part of the legal team that will, over the next two days, argue why honeymoon murder accused Shrien Dewani's appeal against his extradition should be denied.
Dewani's lawyers will fight British Home Secretary Theresa May's September order to extradite him to South Africa for trial for the murder of his bride, Anni. Dewani is accused of orchestrating Anni's murder in Gugulethu, Cape Town, last November.
He lost a court bid in August against his extradition.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said advocates Rodney de Kock, the Director of Public Prosecutions in Cape Town, and Adrian Mopp, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, have been in London for "a while" to assist with legal preparations.
Mhaga said it was unlikely that a judgment would be handed down after two days, but that the South African authorities were confident of success.
Anni's father Vinod Hindocha arrived in London yesterday for Dewani's hearing, accompanied by his wife Nilam and other relatives. A distraught Hindocha said his family was hoping that Dewani would be extradited.
"We've just landed from Sweden for the hearing tomorrow (today). We hope we get justice pretty soon that he comes to South Africa and gives us the answers we need," he said.
Hindocha said his family hasn't "heard a word" from the Dewanis. "They haven't tried to contact us at any time for over a year now," he said, adding that he hoped his fragile wife would make it through the hearing.
Dewani claims to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and insists he is innocent.
The couple's driver, Zola Tongo, admitted to his part in the crime, claiming in a plea-and-sentencing agreement last December that Dewani paid R15000 for the hit on his wife.
Tongo was jailed for 18 years. The two alleged hitmen, Xolile Mngeni and Mziwamadoda Qwabe, will reappear in the Cape Town High Court in February.
Mhaga said that if Dewani lost, he could still petition the UK Supreme Court, but only on limited legal grounds. "If that is unsuccessful, he can go to the European Court of Human Rights if he feels there was an infringement of his rights. But the ball stops there," said Mhaga.
In September, Hindocha presented a petition to the UK Home Secretary in support of Dewani 's extradition signed by thousands of people.
Dewani fights on
TWO South African prosecutors are part of the legal team that will, over the next two days, argue why honeymoon murder accused Shrien Dewani's appeal against his extradition should be denied.
Dewani's lawyers will fight British Home Secretary Theresa May's September order to extradite him to South Africa for trial for the murder of his bride, Anni. Dewani is accused of orchestrating Anni's murder in Gugulethu, Cape Town, last November.
He lost a court bid in August against his extradition.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said advocates Rodney de Kock, the Director of Public Prosecutions in Cape Town, and Adrian Mopp, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, have been in London for "a while" to assist with legal preparations.
Mhaga said it was unlikely that a judgment would be handed down after two days, but that the South African authorities were confident of success.
Anni's father Vinod Hindocha arrived in London yesterday for Dewani's hearing, accompanied by his wife Nilam and other relatives. A distraught Hindocha said his family was hoping that Dewani would be extradited.
"We've just landed from Sweden for the hearing tomorrow (today). We hope we get justice pretty soon that he comes to South Africa and gives us the answers we need," he said.
Hindocha said his family hasn't "heard a word" from the Dewanis. "They haven't tried to contact us at any time for over a year now," he said, adding that he hoped his fragile wife would make it through the hearing.
Dewani claims to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and insists he is innocent.
The couple's driver, Zola Tongo, admitted to his part in the crime, claiming in a plea-and-sentencing agreement last December that Dewani paid R15000 for the hit on his wife.
Tongo was jailed for 18 years. The two alleged hitmen, Xolile Mngeni and Mziwamadoda Qwabe, will reappear in the Cape Town High Court in February.
Mhaga said that if Dewani lost, he could still petition the UK Supreme Court, but only on limited legal grounds. "If that is unsuccessful, he can go to the European Court of Human Rights if he feels there was an infringement of his rights. But the ball stops there," said Mhaga.
In September, Hindocha presented a petition to the UK Home Secretary in support of Dewani 's extradition signed by thousands of people.
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