[Shasown]

A top South African legal official has sparked a storm over attempts to extradite honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani by declaring the Briton's guilt on national television
The director of public prosecutions, Menzi Semelani, told SABC that Dewani had committed a "heinous crime".

Dewani's publicist, Max Clifford, said the comments were "absolutely frightening" and showed that his client had good reason to fear that he would not get a fair trial in South Africa.

In a lengthy interview on the extradition process, Mr Semelani said: "This is a pure criminal matter of somebody who murdered his wife whilst he should be celebrating his honeymoon."

He also accused Dewani of being a fugitive.

"As a matter of fact Mr Dewani is a fugitive because he ran away, he ran out of a country, there was a warrant of arrest for him so as a fugitive we then informed Interpol that we would like an international arrest warrant issued for him."

But Mr Clifford said his client had left South Africa with the full consent of the South African authorities three weeks before an arrest warrant was issued.

Mr Semelani's comments follow those of the police chief, Bheki Cele, who prompted outrage by describing Mr Dewani as a "monkey" who came from London to murder his wife.

Dewani, 31, is accused of arranging the contract killing of his wife during their honeymoon in November in Cape Town.

Anni Dewani's body was found with a single bullet wound to the neck hours after the couple's hired vehicle was carjacked in the township of Gugulethu.

Dewani denies the charges and is fighting attempts to extradite him from the UK.

His lawyers are expected to argue that he will not receive a fair trial in South Africa.

"The chief of police has already condemned him as a murdering monkey, and now the chief prosecutor," Mr Clifford said.

"Can you imagine if that happened in this country?"

Mr Semelani's comments passed unnoticed in South Africa until they were flagged up by Mr Clifford's team.

It is not unusual for South African police and prosecutors to make statements that would be considered prejudicial in the UK legal system.

Criminal trials in South Africa are presided over by a panel of judges without juries, so there is considered to be less danger of prejudicing the rights of suspects to a fair hearing.

Dewani has been unable to attend the preliminary extradition hearings in the UK because his doctors say he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The next hearing is due to be held at Westminster Magistrates Court on March 23.

The two alleged "hitmen" in the case are due to appear in court in Cape Town on February 25

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20110220/...s-3fd0ae9.html

What do you think, if Dewani gets extradited to South Africa to stand trial will he get a fair trial?

[GypsyGoth]

He did it, he should be killed.

But yea he will get a fair trail, and then he will be put in jail or hung or whatever they do to murderers there.

[Jessica.]

Do murderers deserve fair trials?

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Jessica.

Do murderers deserve fair trials?

Well you have to have a fair trial to get a fair verdict, innocent until proven guilty and all that

Anyway, I dont think he will get a fair trial, no.

[lostalex]

If it happened in SA what business is it of yurs???

They have their own judicial system don't they?

[lostalex]

We have a saying here in America. If yur gonna kill someone, don't do it in Texas!

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by lostalex

If it happened in SA what business is it of yurs???

They have their own judicial system don't they?

Because he's British, that's why it's our business

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by lostalex

If it happened in SA what business is it of yurs???

They have their own judicial system don't they?

It seems the purpose of this particular forum has flown right over your head, why dont you PM a member of staff and ask them to explain it to you.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Shasown

It seems the purpose of this particular forum has flown right over your head, why dont you PM a member of staff and ask them to explain it to you.

i think you have that backwards. I;m the one explaining to you about foreign jurisdictions.

DON'T KILL SOMEONE IN TEXAS BITCH... OR SOUTH AFRICA EIGTHERS.

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by lostalex

i think you have that backwards. I;m the one explaining to you about foreign jurisdictions.

Yes but just because the crime(the murder of a British national) occurred in South Africa doesnt mean we cant debate whether we think Dewani (another British national) will get a fair trial.

Particularly after the comments made by the Chief of Police and the Director of the South African National Prosecuting Authority on South African National TV.

And you arent explaining anything, just trying to bait the forum again.

[lostalex]

okay, i'm not saying you can't debate it. I''m just saying, yu get what yu get in certain places.

He MIGHT be innocent.. (big MIGHT).. but everyone knows what judicial system they get when they travel someplace.

It's like those idiot American's on trial now for being "wandering tourists, that just happened to wander over tyhe iranian border. and tney have the audacity to be shocked when IRAN charges them with trumped up spying charges.

I'm sorry, but if yur gonna travel, it's on YOU to know the judicial system BEFORE you travel.

JUST MY OPINION. (and people wonder why so few americans have passports)

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by lostalex

JUST MY OPINION. (and people wonder why so few americans have passports)

Oh no we know the answer to that.

The inability to fill in the forms properly and the reluctance to declare the inter-relationships of your families.

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by lostalex

okay, i'm not saying you can't debate it. I''m just saying, yu get what yu get in certain places.

He MIGHT be innocent.. (big MIGHT).. but everyone knows what judicial system they get when they travel someplace.

It's like those idiot American's on trial now for being "wandering tourists, that just happened to wander over tyhe iranian border. and tney have the audacity to be shocked when IRAN charges them with trumped up spying charges.

I'm sorry, but if yur gonna travel, it's on YOU to know the judicial system BEFORE you travel.

JUST MY OPINION. (and people wonder why so few americans have passports)

I thought that was because Americans don't know anywhere in the world outdside of USA so don't bother travelling.




Anyways, no I don't believe he would get a fair trial back in SA.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Shasown

Oh no we know the answer to that.

The inability to fill in the forms properly and the reluctance to declare the inter-relationships of your families.

Okay. *smiles sweetly*

[Zippy]

Dewani's publicist, Max Clifford...

He lost my sympathy right at this point.

[Angus]

Right from the off, I suspected he might be involved in the murder of his wife - there was no earthly reason for the alleged kidnappers to have set him scot free, then shoot her with no motive.

That aside, it is doubtful he will get a totally impartial trial if he is tried in South Africa, since the media and the justice system have different rules and regulations about discussing prejudicial details etc, But they have the right to request his extradition - whilst the UK has no business harbouring suspected murderers where there is, at least, a fair degree of evidence that he did it (witness statements, video footage with the taxi driver etc).

Diwani does himself no favours by having a "publicist" - what's that all about???? Is he negotiating film and book rights, personal appearances, talk shows?! Why choose a publicity ***** like Max Clifford otherwise? It makes no sense.

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by angus58

Right from the off, I suspected he might be involved in the murder of his wife - there was no earthly reason for the alleged kidnappers to have set him scot free, then shoot her with no motive.

well they could have kept her to sexually abuse or rape her. Then decided it best to kill her at some point.

not saying thats what happened but I remember it being my first thought.

[Angus]

Originally Posted by Zippy

well they could have kept her to sexually abuse or rape her. Then decided it best to kill her at some point.

not saying thats what happened but I remember it being my first thought.

I agree, that's what I thought when the story first broke - that is why it is so odd that they simply killed her without any obvious motive. I'm damn sure they would have raped her if they were going to kill her anyway. It sounds like a contract killing to me.

[BB_Eye]

My thoughts are, if they really wanted to have him extradited, then they are not exactly doing a great job of it on the PR side. If he is guilty and they are unable to bring him back to SA, then the prosecutor and police chief have more to answer for than the British authorities.

[bananarama]

Originally Posted by Jessica.

Do murderers deserve fair trials?

Errrm. Arn't fair trials intended to find out who is guilty or not........You cannot go around presuming guilt unless you like inoccent people to be sentenced as well as the guilty....