'Bisexual' Dewani pleads not guilty to plotting his wife's murder in Cape Town

A British millionaire accused of murdering his wife on their honeymoon in South Africa has told a judge he is bisexual. Shrien Dewani, 34, denies plotting his wife’s death by hiring three men to kill the 28-year-old as they drove through Cape Town’s Gugulethu Township on 13 November, 2010. Appearing at Western Cape High Court in Cape Town, the care home owner denied charges of murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice. He told judge Jeanette Traverso: “I plead not guilty to all five counts, my lady.” Through a witness statement read to the court by his solicitor Francois van Zyl, he also told the court he was bisexual. In it, he said: “My sexual interactions with males were mostly physical experiences or email chats with people I met online or in clubs, including prostitutes.”

The last thing I had said to Anni was to be quiet and not to say anything.

Shrien Dewani

Footage of the crime scene, including Anni’s body inside the taxi, were also shown to the court. The court heard Dewani had abnormally low levels of hormones and that he and his wife were unlikely to have children. He said he had discussed this with Anni, whom he began dating in summer 2009. Their relationship broke down, but they got back together in March 2010 and married later that year in Mumbai. Dewani said the carjacking in Cape Town was a “traumatic experience which resulted in the loss of my wife”. He added he has suffered “flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety attacks” since, which has affected his ability to remember clearly. Anni Dewani’s family, including her father Vinod Hindocha and mother Nilam, were among those in a packed courtroom. Prosecutors claim Dewani conspired with Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni to kill his wife. All three are already serving jail terms in connection with Anni’s murder. All three have already been convicted and will give evidence against Dewani.

We really frustrated each other, we were in love.

Shrien Dewani

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