Dewani suffers from 8216;depression and flashbacks8217;

Shrien Dewani is accused of masterminding the murder of his wife during their honeymoon in S Africa.

Shrien Dewani,the NRI businessman accused of masterminding the murder of his wife during their honeymoon in South Africa,is suffering from depression and flashbacks,a media report said on Sunday.

30-year-old Dewani,who owns a care home business in Bristol,8221;is tormented by flashbacks of the hijack,during which his wife Annie,28,was taken and shot near Cape Town8221;.

8220;He8217;s fragile and unable to sleep because of the recurring flashbacks of having a gun put to his head and then his wife is driven off. As a family even we still can8217;t fully comprehend what must be going on in his mind. He is taking therapy but we are worried,8221; a family friend was quoted as saying by The Observer newspaper.

Dewani,who lost 10 kg in weight during recent weeks,is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by a psychiatrist and last week was unable to attend an extradition hearing at City of Westminster magistrates court,the report said.

However,his family said the businessman is determined to make a full recovery and might voluntarily return to South Africa to fight the allegations against him,it said.

8220;He8217;s doing everything he can to get back on track so that he can clear his name. Post-traumatic stress disorder doesn8217;t go away in a matter of days but the intention is to fight the allegations. No one would want to stay on bail under these conditions,8221; a friend of Dewani told the UK newspaper.

The newlyweds8217; taxi was hijacked in the Gugulethu township on November 13.

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The driver and Dewani were left at the roadside and his wife was later found dead in the back of the abandoned cab with a bullet wound to her neck.

Four South Africans have been arrested and one of them was sentenced to 18 years in jail.

But the country8217;s police claim that the plot was 8220;masterminded8221; by Dewani and have called for his extradition.

Dewani,who is currently on bail in Britain,denies his involvement.

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The extradition hearing of Dewani has been adjourned till February 8 as he failed to appear before Belmarsh Magistrates8217; Court citing acute stress.

The judge extended Dewani8217;s bail.