THE PARENTS of murdered bride Anni Dewani have spoken of their anguish on the eve of a trial into her death, saying that everything in their “lives is empty, everything is quiet, there is no charm in life any more”.
Anni's father Vindo Hindocha and her mother Neelam told the BBC they would be in Cape Town for the trial which starts on Monday (October 6).
"We know it's going to be very difficult but we will do anything to get justice. People say time heals wounds, but in our case, the wounds are deeper the longer we live without answers,” Anni's mother said from their home in Mariestad in Sweden.
“Once this is over, we hope we can move forward with our lives and our Anni can finally be at peace.”
Bristol-based businessman and Anni's husband, Shrien Dewani, is accused of ordering her murder; he has denied any wrong doing. The couple, who wed in a lavish ceremony in Mumbai, were on their honeymoon in South Africa in November 2010 when the car they were travelling in was hijacked. Anni's body was found with gunshot wounds, while Shrien escaped unhurt. The 34-year-old is in Cape Town after doctors found him fit to stand trial.
One local report said that the hearing, expected to last two months, will not be broadcast live.
Reporters and photographers will be allowed limited access and permitted to take pictures and video clips of Dewani on the first day of proceedings.
Meanwhile, Anni's sister Ami Denborg told Sky News that in the days leading up to her wedding, Anni appeared to have changed her mind about marrying Shrien.
"She called me, I talked to her a lot that evening. She was saying a lot of things – 'It's not working well', and things like that,” Ami Denborg said.
"I thought she was just stressed out. Looking back, I should have told her ' All right, forget it, I'll support you, break this off'. Maybe she would have been alive today."
Anni's mother said of her younger daughter: "She was a beautiful girl. I remember her smile, her eyes, her beautiful light brown eyes, her hair, the way she spoke. I remember everything about her.
"Every day I come into her room and look at the photos and think about her".
Prosecutors allege Dewani hired South African Xolile Mngeni to kill Anni. Mngeni was jailed for life for the murder in December 2012.
Two other men also jailed over the killing allege that Dewani ordered the hit.
