'The justice system has failed us' Anni's family blast decision to drop Dewani murder case

Giving her ruling this morning, Cape Town High Court Judge Jeanette Traverso said there was insufficient evidence to implicate millionaire businessman Shrien Dewani in the death of his wife on their honeymoon.

Her sister, Ami Denborg, issued an emtional statement outside court following the collapse of the trial.

She said: "Today we feel really, really sad, because we never heard the full story of Shrien.

We've had four years of sleepless nights and … will we ever be able to sleep?

Ami Denborg

"We heard that Shrien has led a double life and that Anni knew nothing about it.

"And we just wish that Shrien had been honest with us and especially with Anni.

"The knowledge of not ever knowing what happened to my dearest little sister on 13 November 2010...that's going to haunt me, my family, my brother, my parents, for the rest of our lives.

"We've had four years of sleepless nights and … will we ever be able to sleep?

"We've had tremendous support from the South African public, and many others around the world, and we're grateful to all of them and thank them from the bottom of our heart.

"This is a really sad day for us and we hope that no other family will ever have to go through what we have been through."

Ms Denborg said the family will be making no further comments and asked for "time and space for reflection". 

Today's ruling means Dewani has been cleared of involvement in his wife's killing without ever having given evidence before a court.

He has yet to comment publicly on the case since extradition proceedings began, three weeks after Anni's death.

His immediate whereabouts – after he was last seen quickly leaving the courtroom following the ruling – are not yet known.

But his acquittal means he is free to return to Britain immediately.

Judge Traverso concluded arguments from the prosecution had "fallen far below" the level needed to secure a conviction.

The judge added: "In my view, the evidence presented in this case falls far below this threshold.

"The accused is found not guilty on this charge."

The Bill of Rights in the Constitution of South Africa prevents a criminal retrial when there has already been an acquittal or a conviction.

His acquittal comes more than four years after Mrs Dewani was gunned down in Cape Town on 13 November 2010.

Dewani claimed he was released unharmed after a minibus the couple were travelling was hijacked the evening before, while his wife was held and driven away.

She was found shot dead in the abandoned vehicle in nearby Khayelitsha the next morning.

Prosecutors had claimed bisexual Dewani, from Westbury-on-Trym, in Bristol, wanted out of his relationship and plotted the death of his 28-year-old wife staged to appear as a botched hijacking.

The prosecution had alleged three men – cab driver Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and gunman Xolile Mngeni – carried out the killing on Dewani's orders, for 15,000 rand (£830).

Tongo, Qwabe and Mngeni have already been convicted for playing a role in the young bride's death.