Cape Town, Aug 24 (ANI): The private lawyer of a man on trial for murder of Indian-origin bride Anni Dewani laughed off claims that he was being funded by the family of her husband Shrien.

No, no, no. I wouldn't have accepted [if that was the case], the lawyer for Xolile Mngeni said outside the Western Cape High Court.

We have private funders, people who have interest in the matter. We have been approached by human rights guys and we have noted as well that there are human rights issues, he said.

So it's partly privately funded, [partly] pro-bono, he added.

Mngeni is believed to be the man who shot Anni Dewani while she and Shrien were on their honeymoon in Cape Town in November 2010, News24 reports.

Mngeni has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, and the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Shrien has been accused of masterminding his wife's murder and of making it look like a hijacking, but he has repeatedly denied the allegations.

He is being treated in Britain for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. (ANI)