After a unanimous decision by the mental health panel at Cape Town’s Valkenberg State Psychiatric Hospital, Shrien Dewani has been found to be mentally fit to stand trial. The Western Cape Government’s Forensic Mental Health Service has released a psychiatric report detailing his condition.
The report states that Dewani experienced flashbacks and nightmares following the murder of his wife Anni in 2010. Details of the report include a description of his attempted suicide in the UK, in which he overdosed on tranquilisers.
Following the suicide attempt, Dewani underwent a series of admissions to psychiatric facilities in the UK in 2011, in which he became “acutely sensitive to ambient noises”.
After feeling “much better” in 2014, he was extradited to South Africa in April. Since arriving in South Africa, the report states, “his medication has been withdrawn”, but he “occasionally needs a tranquiliser to sleep”. He is “often tearful” and “complained of experiencing panic attacks”.
During his observation period, states the report, “[h]e impressed as being of superior intelligence”. The report concludes that “[h]e seems to have perfectionist personality traits with underlying anxiety”, but that he is “not certifiable”.
Dewani is accused of hiring two South African men, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Zola Tongo, to murder his wife Anni in November 2010. Tongo and Qwabe, have agreed to testify against Dewani as part of a plea bargain.
Dewani has a hearing scheduled in September, and his trial will start early October.
