Man, 26, faces bride murder charge

Anni Dewani, 28, and her husband Shrien, 31, from Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, were carjacked by armed robbers in a township on the outskirts of Cape Town late on Saturday night.

The gunmen forced the couple's driver and Mr Dewani out of the vehicle before driving off. Swedish-born Mrs Dewani's body was found the next day.

A 26-year-old man, who has not been named, will appear in court today charged with the honeymooner's murder and hijacking, South African police said.

Western Cape police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said officers were also hunting another suspect.

The Dewanis, who were married in India a fortnight before the tragedy, spent the first four days of their honeymoon on safari in Kruger National Park in South Africa before moving on to a five-star hotel in Cape Town. They decided to venture outside the tourist areas for a more authentic experience.

Mr Dewani told reporters: "Anni grew up in Sweden, and she felt as if the area around this hotel was just like at home: so clean and safe, and maybe a bit sterile.

"She had never been to Africa before, so she suggested that we should have a look at the 'real Africa'."

They were being driven through the township of Gugulethu on Saturday night when they were attacked by two gunmen.

Mr Dewani said he pleaded with the men not to separate him from his wife when their taxi was targeted but they forced him out of the vehicle after driving around dark streets for 20 minutes.

With a gun held to his head, he was told that his partner would not be harmed.

Mr Dewani, who owns a series of care homes, said his wife had recently graduated from a product design course at university in Sweden and she was due to move to London after their honeymoon.

He added: "She loved people and she loved life and she was always, always happy."