Anni's family will decide whether to launch civil action against Shrien Dewani

The family of honeymoon murder victim Anni Dewani will decide after Christmas whether to launch a civil action against her husband Shrien, who was cleared by a South African judge of arranging the death of his new wife.

Dewani is now free to return home to the UK after Judge Jeanette Traverso dismissed the case against him, describing evidence from a key prosecution witness as being "riddled with contradictions".

The collapse of the trial in Cape Town left his wife's family devastated, and Anni's uncle, Ashok Hindocha, said they were exploring the possibility of legal action in the bid to find answers.

The family waited four years for the case to be brought against the 34-year-old businessman from Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, who had been accused of staging the carjacking in which she was gunned down.

Mr Hindocha said the decision to halt the trial before Dewani gave evidence meant there were "holes to be filled" in the story about his niece's final days.

Drawing on evidence that Dewani had secret relationships with gay men in the months before his marriage, Mr Hindocha said: "Srhien Dewani has lied to us from day one."

He said a decision on how to proceed will be taken after the family spend Christmas together at their home in Sweden.

"We wanted the truth and we didn't get it," he said.

"We went to South Africa with a lot of questions, to seek for answers; now we are coming home with more questions and more sleepless nights.

"That is not fair, this is not justice, Anni did not get a fair trial in South Africa."

Asked about the prospect of a legal case in the UK, he said the family were "looking at all the options."

Dewani heaved a sigh of relief in court as the judge dismissed the case against him. He left the court a short time later via a side gate, declining to comment.

Three men - Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and gunman Xolile Mngeni - have already been convicted for their part in Anni's murder, which happened when the Dewanis' chauffeur-driven late-night tour of a township was hijacked. Monde Mbolombo, a self-confessed "middle man" who set up the murder, may also face justice, having previously been granted immunity by the state.

Prosecutors said bisexual Dewani had long planned to get out of the relationship to Swedish-raised engineer Anni, 28, and arranged a carjacking on their honeymoon in Cape Town in November 2010 in which he would escape unharmed and Anni would be killed.

But Dewani's defence team criticised prosecution witnesses and said the case against him was weak.

Judge Traverso said chief prosecution witness cab driver Tongo's claims about the murder were "riddled with contradictions" and "highly debatable".

The judge said the evidence presented by the prosecution fell "far below" the required threshold.

Dewani, who was finally extradited this year to face trial accused of planning the murder of his wife, listened intently as key evidence against him was criticised by the judge.

He heard her declare that the evidence from the three criminals already convicted over his bride's murder was "so improbable, with so many mistakes, lies and inconsistencies you cannot see where the lies ended and the truth begins".

The ruling ended a four-year wait for Dewani and his family to clear his name - a battle which has included lengthy spells in mental health units, lurid allegations about his private life and fighting extradition from the UK to face justice.

Dewani has yet to comment publicly on the case since extradition proceedings began, three weeks after Anni's death.