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Dewani overdosed on tranquillisers - report

Johannesburg - Honeymoon murder-accused Shrien Dewani took an overdose of tranquillisers to deal with the death of his wife, the Saturday Star reported.

He reportedly took the pills because he struggled to sleep due to flashbacks and nightmares.

This was published in a report from the Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital which was handed over to the Western Cape High Court on Friday.

Dewani was declared fit to stand trial despite being tearful and distressed, reporting panic attacks and being startled by "sudden ambient noises".

Clinical depression

According to the psychiatric report there were no signs he suffered from clinical depression.

He was not receiving any medication besides occasional tranquillisers to help him sleep.

Dewani would appear in court on 9 September for a formal pre-trial hearing and his trial would start on 6 October.

His wife, Anni, was shot dead in Gugulethu on 13 November 2010, in an apparent staged hijacking as the couple was on honeymoon.

Key witnesses convicted of the crime have implicated Dewani in the attack.

He was extradited from Britain to South Africa in April where he was charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.

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