Man in court over murder of tourist

The man alleged to have murdered honeymoon tourist Anni Dewani appeared in the dock of the Wynberg Regional Court in Cape Town today.

He was identified as Xolile Mngeni, 26, of Khayelitsha and he will remain in custody till his next appearance in court on November 25.

Dewani, 28, and her husband Shrien were hijacked in Gugulethu near Cape Town on Saturday night while apparently returning to their hotel in the city after a night out.

Dewani’s husband was forced out of the vehicle by the hijackers, who drove off with her. His wife’s dead body was found on Sunday morning.

Magistrate Jackie Redelinghuys told Mngeni that he was also being charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances.

“The State alleges in your case that you committed murder, and that the death of the victim was caused during the commission of a robbery with aggravating circumstances, or committed by a group of people acting in common purpose.”