Anni Dewani inquest halted by London coroner

09 October 2015 - 13:47 By Marvin Meintjies in London
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
PICTURE PERFECT: Newlyweds Shrien and Anni Dewani in 2010. Leisser says the groom was living a double life
PICTURE PERFECT: Newlyweds Shrien and Anni Dewani in 2010. Leisser says the groom was living a double life
Image: Supplied

The North London Coroner has decided not to proceed with an inquest into the death of Anni Dewani.

Andrew Walker told Hindocha family that there would be no point in continuing the inquest as he could not reach a contradictory conclusion to the judicial proceeding in South Africa, which cleared her husband Shrien of conspiring to murder her.

Anni was shot dead while on honeymoon in Cape Town in November 2010.

Walker said the absence of any new evidence and the fact that it was unlikely that Shrien would give evidence that would incriminate himself, there was no reason to press ahead with the inquest.

Addressing the family direclty, Walker said he could understand the family's anguish, ‎"to lose a loved one under such circumstances and after all this time to have so many unanswered questions‎... ‎Can I just once again express my deepest sympathies to the family."

‎Barrister Christopher Staker had argued that proceedings in SA had left more questions than they answered. But Walker he could not "re try" the matter.

He stood the matter down, but told the family that should any new evidence emerge they could apply to the attorney-general to re-open the matter. Shrien was not in court.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now