Wife murder accused 'a monkey'

The chief of the South African police has called British businessman Shrien Dewani a "monkey" for allegedly thinking it would be easy to kill his new bride in the country.

Dewani, 30, is accused of ordering the killing of Anni, 28, who was found dead in the back of an abandoned taxi with a bullet wound to her neck while on their honeymoon.

General Bheki Cele told South African media: "One monkey came from London to kill his wife here. He thought we South Africans were stupid. Don't kill people here."

His spokeswoman said the quote, attributed to the national commissioner of the South African Police Service, had to be seen in context. She said: "He was referring to the fact that somebody thought it would be easy to commit a crime in South Africa.

"The quotes were taken out of context.

"He was emphasising the point that somebody had come from their country and thought it would be easy to commit a crime here."

Taxi driver Zola Tongo, who drove the newlyweds to the dangerous Cape Town township of Gugulethu where his cab was hijacked before Anni was murdered, said Dewani offered 1,400 for the killing just hours after the couple arrived in the country. South African authorities want to extradite the wealthy care home owner from Westbury-on-Trym in Bristol.

He was bailed at a hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Wednesday, only to be denied his freedom shortly afterwards when a lawyer representing the South African authorities said they would appeal against the decision.

A High Court judge will hear the appeal today.