THE father-in-law of a British woman murdered on honeymoon in South Africa has thanked Ottery residents for their support.

Anni Dewani, 28, and husband Shrien, 30, were carjacked by armed robbers in a township on Cape Town’s outskirts on Saturday night.

Now Mr Dewani’s father, Prakash, chairman of PSP Healthcare, which operates Angela Court Nursing Home, in Tipton St John, has expressed his “sincere gratitude” to all the local people who had provided “immense support” during this “tragic ordeal”.

Speaking on behalf of his family and Angela Court staff, he told the Herald: “We are a close family and our business is about people supporting people. While Angela Court cares for others 24/7, it is immensely comforting to see the local people of Sidmouth and surrounding areas caring for us in our time of need.”

Two men forced the couple’s taxi driver out of the vehicle before driving off, and later ordered Mr Dewani from the car at gunpoint.

Mrs Dewani’s body was found in the dumped car the next day. She had been shot three times.

Her husband spoke on Tuesday of his powerlessness to save her.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, he said: “Of course I have an enormous amount of guilt about the whole episode. However, having gone through events over and over again in my mind, it is difficult to see how we could have done things differently.”

The pair, from Westbury-on-Trym, had been married two weeks.

Xolile Mngeni, 26, appeared in court in Cape Town yesterday charged with murder and robbery in connection with the incident.

He was remanded in custody until a hearing on Thursday.

A police spokesman said a second suspect was arrested yesterday morning over the murder.

A collection fund has been set up in memory of Mrs Dewani, which has already raised nearly �5,000.

Anyone wishing to contribute can do so at www.justgiving.com/annidewani.

There will be a private funeral tomorrow and a memorial service in London on Sunday.