HONEYMOON MURDER SUSPECT SHRIEN DEWANI LOSES HIS HIGH COURT BID TO BLOCK EXTRADITION TO SOUTH AFRICA

Honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani has lost his High Court bid to block his extradition to South Africa until he is fit to stand trial for allegedly organising his wife's murder.

A panel of three judges, headed by Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, ruled today that it would not be 'unjust and oppressive' to force him to leave Britain.

They said this was on the basis that the South African authorities agreed to send him back to the UK swiftly if he is found unfit to stand trial, which has been agreed to.

Dewani, who is compulsorily detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act, is accused of ordering the killing of his new wife Anni, 28, who was shot as the couple travelled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010.

Today Anni's family welcomed the ruling but it is understood Shrien could launch one final appeal to the Supreme Court to stop the extradition.

Amit Karia, a first cousin to Anni, said on behalf of family members at London's High Court: 'We are happy with the judgment. We have waited for it for three years, three months.'

He said: 'It seems a step closer to finally getting justice for our Anni.'

But he warned there was still a possibility that Dewani could launch a last-ditch appeal over today's ruling to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.

Mr Karia said: 'We are always worried and don't take anything for granted.'

He described the situation for Anni's parents as 'immensely difficult - they do not have normal life any more.'

He added: 'They just want the truth - that is all we have ever wanted.'