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SWEDISH HONEYMOONER SLAYING

SOUTH AFRICA

‘Anni Dewani was not raped’: forensic expert

Swedish newlywed Anni Dewani was not raped or sexually assaulted before she was gunned down at close range while honeymooning in South Africa, a court heard Wednesday.

'Anni Dewani was not raped': forensic expert

Pathologist Janette Verster told the High Court in Cape Town that fingerprints were found on Dewani’s left leg but there was no evidence that the 28-year-old had been sexually abused.

“There was no evidence of injury (to the genital area) internally and externally. There was nothing microscopically I could find,” Verster said, adding Dewani’s underwear was still intact and had not been disrupted.

Dewani was killed by a single gunshot while travelling in the back of the car with her British husband Shrien Dewani in November 2010.

The court is trying a local man Xolile Mngeni as the alleged gunman, but is also fighting to extradite Shrien in connection with the case.

Mngeni has denied charges of murder, kidnapping, robbery and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Two local men already jailed over the killing and have blamed Shrien for masterminding a paid hit on his wife.

The Swedish tourist was found with her hands tucked under her chin, on her right side on the back seat of the car belonging to taxi driver Zola Tongo, who is serving 18 years for his role in her death.

Dewani had taken a defensive pose before the gun was fired at a “very close range”, likely five to 10 centimetres away, Verster said.

The bullet entered and exited her left hand and grazed her chest before entering her neck.

The shot severed two vascular veins and hit the spinal cord before exiting her back, the Sapa news agency reported.

Tongo and co-accused Mziwamadoda Qwabe — who is serving 25 years — named Mngeni as the gunman.

Both opted for plea bargains, saying Dewani had paid to have his wife killed in a fake hijacking.

Britain approved Dewani’s extradition but the London High Court shelved the process in March, citing health grounds. The Briton has claimed no wrongdoing.

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TRAVEL

Denmark bans travel from South Africa over new virus variant

Denmark said it is barring entry to non-Danish residents of South Africa due to fears over the spread of a new variant of the coronavirus there.

Denmark bans travel from South Africa over new virus variant
Passengers at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, in December 2020. Photo: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

South Africans and other foreign nationals who reside in Denmark will be allowed to return to Denmark from South Africa under the restrictions.

Denmark has not recorded any cases of the new variant, which was detected by South African authorities in mid-December and has since been found in a number of other countries.

The South African variant and another which has emerged in Britain are said to be more infectious versions of the virus, and have prompted widespread concern. The two variants are not the same as each other.

Denmark's decision came into effect Wednesday and will last until January 17th.

“This means that foreigners residing in South Africa generally will be refused entry to Denmark during this period,” the justice ministry said in a statement late Tuesday.

The following groups from South Africa can be exempted and granted entry to Denmark:

  • Primary carers for children under the age of consent (upon documentation of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours of arrival in Denmark)
  • Family or partners to seriously ill or dying persons in Denmark (upon documentation of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours of arrival in Denmark)
  • Inward travel for the purpose of goods transport

Denmark, which is under a partial lockdown since mid-December, has almost 90 cases of the new British variant.

It has already barred entry to arrivals from Britain except for Danish nationals and permanent residents, who must present a negative virus test.

READ ALSO: Residents of Denmark returning from UK must take Covid-19 test within 24 hours of travel

Authorities said Tuesday they were toughening coronavirus restrictions and urged people to avoid social contacts.

“Stay at home as much as you can, don't meet people outside your household, those close to you,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at a press conference.

 

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