Cape Town: The family of a Indo-Swedish bride murdered in 2010 while on her honeymoon here said on Tuesday that they are planning to sue her British-Indian millionaire husband Shrien Dewani in the UK as he flew out of South Africa, a day after being acquitted by a court.
Dewani, 34, was accused of hiring hitmen to get his bride Anni Hindocha killed during their honeymoon but was acquitted yesterday by Western Cape High Court Deputy Judge Jeanette Traverso who threw out the high-profile case even before he started his defence against the accusation.
In a statement today, Anni's uncle Ashok Hindocha said she would never have married Dewani if she had known about "his secret sex life with male prostitutes". "Neither would we have, as a family, condoned a union with a man who indulged himself in such a sordid manner. We know now that he was having gay sex with male prostitutes, and declared himself bisexual on the first day of his trial..." he said.
"We would have preferred to have known about his sexuality before he married our precious Anni. She gave herself to him, mind, body and soul, and she hoped to have been cherished and loved," Hindocha said.
Anni's family also confirmed they are seeking legal advice about instituting a civil action against Dewani. "We will now go through this case with our lawyers to confirm whether we can file a lawsuit against Shrien Dewani in the UK," he said.
Dewani flew out of South Africa on Tuesday. He made no comment as he hurried through Cape Town International Airport surrounded by an entourage and media persons.
He looked calm and self-composed as he walked into the airport. Wearing a tight white shirt and dark jeans, Dewani stared resolutely ahead as police officers helped him through the waiting media scrum.
The millionaire businessman faced a barrage of questions from reporters as he headed straight for the boarding gate. He boarded an Emirates flight headed to Dubai and is believed to reach the UK from there.
Dewani was accused of hiring three men -- taxi driver Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni -- to kill Anni on their honeymoon in South Africa in 2010. Anni was kidnapped and then murdered in Gugulethu township near Cape Town on November 13, 2010.
Mngeni was sentenced to life in prison for the murder but died in jail. Qwabe was sentenced to 25 years. Tongo was sentenced to 18 years following a plea bargain deal. Dewani lost a four-year legal battle in the UK to avoid extradition to South Africa, and was sent in April this year to stand trial.
