The father of Anni Dewani, the bride who was murdered whilst on her honeymoon in South Africa, said he is shocked by reports that her husband Shrien told a gay escort that he needed to escape an arranged marriage just months before Anni was murdered on their honeymoon in Cape Town.

“What kind of father would give away his lovely, educated daughter to a gay?” Hindocha said on Wednesday in reaction to the reports.

Her husband Shrien Dewani is accused of murdering wife, and is alleged by a gay escort to have confessed that he needed to find a way out of marriage.

The South African authorities are seeking to extradite the businessman. The extradition hearing is continuing at Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court in south east London.

The care home owner is accused of arranging the killing of new bride Anni whilst on honeymoon in Cape Town, South Africa.

It has emerged during the hearing that Leopold Leisser, a gay escort, could provide the motive behind their claim that the millionaire hired a hitman to kill his bride Anni, it emerged in court.

Leisser is prepared to give evidence if Dewani stands trial, claiming Dewani divulged to him his true feelings about his marriage more than six months earlier, the court heard.

Hugo Keith QC, representing the South African authorities, said: ‘‘Dewani told (the witness) in April 2010 how he was engaged and had to get married.

‘‘He said although she was a nice, lovely girl who he liked, he could not break out of the engagement because he would be disowned by his family. He went on to say to the witness he needed to find a way out of it.’’

Anni, 28, was killed in car-jacking in the dangerous Gugulethu township, which the prosecution allege was staged..

He is also wanted for offences of kidnapping, robbery with aggravated circumstances, conspiracy to commit murder, and obstructing the administration of justice, the court heard.

Dewani, dressed in a dark tracksuit top, sat slumped in the dock, mumbling to himself with his eyes half-closed.

The court was packed with more than 30 members of his and Mrs Dewani’s families. His relatives filled the public gallery and his late wife’s were sitting on the jury bench.