Cape Town - The men accused of murdering slain underworld kingpin Mark Lifman have sought out Senior Counsel to represent them in their bid for freedom at the George Magistrate’s Court.
This was revealed as Johannes Hendrik Jacobs and Gert Bezuidenhout returned to court on Thursday for their much-anticipated bail hearing.
The presence of Lifman’s long-term friends Jerome “Donkie” Booysen and Andre Naude, along with Booysen’s son, Joel, caused a stir as a visibly frightened Bezuidenhout was seen dropping his head to avoid the eye contact as he walked into the dock.
Addressing the court on Thursday, defence attorney Bulelani Bans told the magistrate they needed a postponement so Senior Counsel could be brought to defend them.
“My instructions, among others, was to brief counsel.
“Upon sourcing counsel, counsel indicated that he is not available for the dates of December.”
He told the court that proposed dates were selected because it is outside of the term of the High Court where most Senior Counsel would be available and not occupied in trials.
Bans told the court that while it was not ideal to have the case postponed another month, his clients were in agreement.
“We do realise bail applications are urgent in nature and it is best to move them as soon as possible but in the same breath the applicants want adequate legal representation.”
He also explained that the duo had been moved to an unnamed prison for their safety and consultations were problematic as they only had an hour to consult and telephone calls made it difficult to take instructions.
Bans also told the magistrate that despite an earlier court order granting permission to photograph and film the accused, he intended on bringing an application to have the order reviewed as he was seen expressing his annoyance at the presence of press photographers.
The case was subsequently postponed to 16 and 17 January.
@capeargus_news Friends and business associates of slain underworld kingpin Mark Lifman have gathered at the George Magistrate's Court as the two men accused of being behind the high profile hit appear for their bail hearings on Thursday. Video: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
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Following the court appearance, several sources in the legal fraternity told the Cape Argus that speculation had started as nosy attorneys and advocates tried to uncover who would represent the duo.
Lifman died in a hail of bullets at the Garden Route Mall in George on 3 November.
Shortly after the shooting which was captured on CCTV cameras, cops busted the duo.
Just days after the shooting, Booysen claimed that Bezuidenhout, who is also known as “Johnny”, was the right-hand man of PPA Security shareholder Alwyn Landman, and said he was known to do Landman’s bidding.
At the time of the arrest, PPA management explained that the duo had only done contract work for the popular security company and denied any involvement in Lifman’s murder.
Last week a raid by the Anti-Gang Unit at the PPA premises in Northgate Island sent tongues wagging as cops confiscated firearms.
On the same day police also raided the home of a PPA employee in Table View.
Landman has denied any involvement in the murder.