Shrien Dewani's appeal hearing to be held in London on December 13 and 14

Shrien Dewani, the Westbury-on-Trym businessman who is facing extradition to South Africa where he is accused of plotting the murder of his bride, will fight the move in the High Court next month.

The appeal was lodged by his legal team after the Home Secretary Theresa May signed an order for the extradition in September. In August, a judge ruled that Mr Dewani, of Passage Road, should be sent back to South Africa to stand trial.

The appeal hearing is due to take place on December 13 and 14  in the High Court in London.

Suspicion fell on Mr Dewani, 31, after his Swedish-born wife Anni, 28, was shot dead a year ago yesterday. The couple's cab was hijacked in the Gugulethu township, on the outskirts of Cape Town, as they returned from a night out. Mr Dewani was unharmed.

The couple's driver Zola Tongo has admitted his part in the crime and claimed in a plea agreement with prosecutors that Mr Dewani paid 15,000 rand for the hit on his wife.

Two other men, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, 25, and Xolile Mngeni, 23, have been charged with Mrs Dewani's murder, as well as kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances, and go on trial next year.

Mr Dewani, who is said to be suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder, has always maintained his innocence. He is being detained in the Fromeside mental health unit in Bristol.

Yesterday candlelit vigils were held in Bristol, London, Cape Town and Sweden to mark the first anniversary of Mrs Dewani's death.