Suspect in South African honeymoon murder in court

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - A suspect accused of killing a tourist from Britain during her honeymoon visit to South Africa, appeared briefly in court on Thursday to face charges of murder and robbery.

Xolile Mngeni, 26, who was arrested on Tuesday, is suspected of murdering Anni Dewani after the car she and her husband Shrien were in was hijacked in Gugulethu township, a high crime area about 20 km (12 miles) from Cape Town's central city.

Mngeni, who had a closely shaven head and followed proceedings via a Xhosa translator, said he would apply for legal aid because he could not pay for a lawyer.

Magistrate Jackie Redelinghuys acceded to a state request and ordered that no photographs be published of the accused, which may prejudice a planned identification parade.

Anni Dewani, a Swedish national living in Britain, died of a single gunshot wound.

Police said two men armed with guns approached the couple's car and forced out the driver, before speeding off with the tourists inside.

The gunmen later released the husband, who flagged down a motorist and alerted the police. The vehicle was recovered with the woman's body inside.

Mngeni was remanded until his next appearance on Nov 25.

(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; editing by Jon Herskovitz)