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Brian Wainstein. (Supplied, Interpol)
- Three suspected underworld figures have been indicted for the murder of “King of Steroids” Brian Wainstein.
- They were granted bail of 100,000 rand on condition that they report to the police station every Monday.
- They face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder and money laundering.
The Cape Town Magistrates Court on Tuesday granted three suspected underworld figures charged with the murder of “Steroid King” Brian Wainstein bail of 100,000 rand.
The suspects, Mark Lifman, Jerome Booysen and William Steven, appeared on charges of conspiracy, murder and money laundering after they turned themselves in to police.
The case against the three had previously been postponed following a bomb scare.
According to the state, Lifman had paid Booysen, who, in turn, paid Steven for the hit on the international steroid smuggler who was killed at his Constantia home in 2017.
It is alleged that they later enjoyed the profits from the steroid trade after Wainstein’s murder.
READ | International ‘Steroid King’ shot to death at Cape Town home in possible coup
The State requested that bail be set at 100,000 rand, however the defendants’ lawyers argued that the amount of the bond was too high and that Steven would not be able to pay it as he was a pensioner with an income of 1,800 rand a month.
However, the court heard that Steven owned property, while Lifman owned a hotel and Booysen rented property to students.
The State had requested that the conditions of bail include the delivery of their travel documents, firearms and house arrest.
Lifman and Booysen’s attorney, defense attorney Jantjie Van Niekerk, argued that the prosecution had no reason to seize Lifman’s eight firearms and Booysen’s only weapon since the case dates back to 2017.
“They (the prosecution) had three years to confiscate the firearms for the investigation, but they didn’t,” Van Niekerk said.
The prosecution said it had witnesses who could link the suspects to the murder, which it maintained suggested they were a threat to society and should be placed under house arrest.
However, the court determined that there was insufficient evidence that they posed a threat. House arrest status was not granted and their firearms would not be confiscated.
Lifman was expected to report to the Sea Point police station, Booysen to Bellville, and Steven to Kraaifontein every Monday.
The case was postponed until February 9, 2021 for further investigation.
