CAPE TOWN: Millionaire British businessman Shrien Dewani walked free on Monday after a South African judge cleared him of murdering his Swedish bride after a sensational trial where his sexuality played a key role.

The shock judgment in what became known as the “honeymoon murder” case left Dewani’s mother weeping with relief in court while his late wife’s family wept bitter tears.

Prosecutors said Dewani hired hitmen to kill 28-year-old Anni in a staged hijacking in Cape Town during their honeymoon in November 2010, because he is gay and felt trapped into marriage by family pressures. Dewani says he is bisexual and loved Anni.

Both families are of Indian origin and had sat across the courtroom from each other since the trial began in October with graphic video of Anni’s body in a short black evening dress sprawled across the seat of a taxi.

She had been killed with a single shot, execution style, prosecutors said, after the hijackers allowed Dewani out of the vehicle and drove off with her.

Judge Jeannette Traverso said the state’s evidence had “fallen far below” the level needed to secure a conviction and it would be unjust to force Dewanito testify in his own defence in the hope that he would incriminate himself.

The judge conceded there were “a number of unanswered questions” about the murder and acknowledged “strong public opinion” that Dewani should take the stand.

Traverso also noted a plea by the murdered woman’s family that Dewani should not be allowed to walk free without testifying, but said her ruling was based on law and could not be influenced by emotion.

Prosecutors said they cannot appeal, and Dewani was expected to leave South Africa as soon as possible.

Dressed in an immaculate suit and tie, with his greying hair cropped short, 34-year-old Dewani often appeared nervous in the dock, with his head snapping around at any sudden sound, but he looked unemotional as he left the court.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2014