Suspect charged for tourist killing

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Pretoria - Police have made a major breakthrough in their investigation into the hijacking and murder of a UK tourist - a man has been formally arrested and charged for both crimes.

A 26-year-old Khayelitsha man was charged on Wednesday afternoon, after he was taken in for questioning on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson, Captain Frederick van Wyk, said the man is scheduled to appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Anni Dewani and her husband Shrien were honeymooning in the Western Cape when they were hijacked while heading to Gugulethu on Saturday night.

The couple were in a taxi owned by a shuttle service company when they were attacked by two armed men at an intersection.

The driver was forced out of the vehicle and the gunmen sped off with the couple still inside the vehicle.

At some point, Shrien Dewani was also forced out of the vehicle, who later alerted police about the hijacking.

A search for the hijacked vehicle led police to Lingelethu West, where Anni Dewani's body was found on the back seat of the vehicle.

Van Wyk said a post-mortem was carried out on Monday and her body was released to family members on Tuesday.

Details of the post-mortem would only be released once it was presented as evidence in court, he added.

Police are still on the hunt for another suspect. Van Wyk appealed to anyone who had any information to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.