Shrien Dewani: The Suicide Bid ‘Lies’, Dr Dedman And The Pharmacist
SHRIEN Dewani: Anorak’s at-a-glance look at the murder of Anni Dewani in the news: The alleged suicide attempt.
Daily Express: “SHRIEN DEWANI WINS BAIL AFTER ‘SUICIDE BID’”
So. It was Mr Dewani’s suicide attempt that enabled him to secure bail? And was it a suicide attempt? The BBC reports:
Julian Knowles, who represents Mr Dewani, said his client was “lapsing in and out of consciousness” but had not tried to kill himself. A source close to Mr Dewani’s family had said on Tuesday that he was taken to hospital after suffering a reaction to sleeping tablets.
His psychiatrist, the unfortunately named Dr Dedman, gives evidence:
“It’s my opinion Mr Dewani was feeling distressed on Sunday as a result of the issues the court has been already hearing about. Mr Dewani has described experiencing palpitations on that afternoon and taking some diazepam, which he had been instructed to do by his general practitioner to relieve him of that condition. He felt very tired and described feeling he wanted to go to sleep and describes taking one or two (sleeping pills). He did not state that he took the tablets with suicidal intent.”
Although the Mirror says:
The businessman – accused of ordering the murder of his bride Anni, 28, in South Africa – had also spoken of his wish to commit suicide, the court heard.
Ben Watson, for the South African authorities, tells the court:
“Mr Dewani was lapsing in and out of consciousness from what appeared to be a massive drug overdose in circumstances Mr Dewani had given an indication he was attempting to commit suicide.”
The Daily Mail publishes a section called:
“HOW THE TRUTH WAS HIDDEN”
Reports first emerged on Tuesday morning that Shrien Dewani was being treated in hospital after a suicide attempt involving an overdose of pills. The story was confirmed at the time by those authorised to speak on behalf of Mr Dewani and his family. Yet, later the same day, solicitors for Mr Dewani contacted the Daily Mail and other media to object to the reports.
The legal warning from JMW solicitors said that Mr Dewani had a reaction to his sleeping tablets on Sunday, and was taken to hospital as a precaution. It stated categorically that there was no intention to kill himself, and it was not a suicide bid. The lawyers added that he received no further treatment or intervention in hospital, and was assessed as medically fit to be discharged on Tuesday.
The media duly respected the version of events put forward by the solicitors. However, events in court yesterday suggest that the original stories were correct all along.
The Independent is succinct:
Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court heard police feared he might die after he was rushed to Bristol Royal Infirmary by ambulance when his sister dialled 999 on Sunday evening. She discovered him collapsed in his bedroom after swallowing a cocktail of 46 pills, including diazepam prescribed to counter anxiety and help him sleep.
The South Africans want Shrien Dewani locked up “for his own protection”.
Mr Dewani’s dad addresses the bench. The Express tells us:
Care home tycoon Prakash, who is a qualified pharmacist, wept in the witness box as he insisted his son would go on to prove his innocence. His emotional outburst sparked extraordinary scenes as Dewani, 31, sobbed and wailed uncontrollably in the dock at Woolwich Crown Court, south London.
Says Prakash Dewani:
“Our family is very important to us, my innocent son is even more valued. We will do anything as a family to keep him safe and prove his innocence. There is no way he would have done something like that. We will ensure he stands trial in South Africa to clear his name. But when he goes to South Africa he must be safe. I intend to take away his privacy completely by having someone with him 24 hours of the day.”
Dewani, of Westbury-on-Trym, denies the allegation that he hired men to murder his new wife Anni near Cape Town in November 2010.
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Posted: 25th, February 2011 | In: Key Posts, Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
