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A woman who is among the five people accused of conspiring to murder the well-known Cape Town lawyer William Booth has been released on bail.
The five defendants appeared tired as they trudged from the holding cells to the Cape Town Magistrates Court dock on Friday.
Almost none of the regular employees, prosecutors and police were present. At least one of the prosecutors is known to be isolated due to contact with a person who has Covid-19.
Those present wore visors or face masks as the court proceeded in the theft and rape cases on the record to reach that of Riyaad Gasant, Kim Kashiefa Smith, Kauther Brown, Igsaan Williams and Ibrahim Deare.
The five quickly looked at the public gallery in vain, probably because of the familiar faces of family and friends who generally attend these proceedings.
READ | Cape Town attorney William Booth shot in his garage, escapes unharmed
In accordance with closing regulations to minimize meetings, regular groups of family and friends are not allowed in.
The public gallery is also marked with bureaucracy to indicate the appropriate distances that people should sit between each other.
However, on the dock, the same rules do not apply, and the defendants kept close to each other struggling to listen to legal exchanges through masks, visors, and scarves.
They face charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, five charges of alleged violation of the Disaster Management Act regulations and alleged possession of a firearm.
Seven suspects were arrested in connection with Woodstock with the attempted murder of Booth. The SUV that the suspects were using at the time of the incident was also recovered and confiscated. (Jaco Marais / Gallo images)
Smith was given a bond of R5,000 and, if paid, must meet strict conditions, including not contacting potential witnesses.
In their last appearance, the court heard that Smith and Brown were needed at home to care for their children.
Smith’s legal representative, who had also originally spoken for Brown, has retired, so he can now receive legal assistance for all five.
Booth, 65, was shot while in his garage in Higgovale, Cape Town, on April 9.
He was physically unharmed, but shaken. Booth also chairs the Criminal Law Working Group of the SA Law Society.
The case was postponed until May 22.
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