Cape Town - Pete Mihalik, who was shot dead in what is believed to be a hit outside his son's private school on Tuesday morning, has represented some of the Cape underworld's most notorious figures.
On Tuesday, as shock waves reverberated among the Cape legal fraternity, many people speculated that the shooting was a targeted hit and was connected to one or more of the high profile cases Mihalik was handling.
Mihalik clients include alleged Sexy Boys gang boss Jerome "Donkie" Booysen, alleged nightclub security kingpin Mark Lifman and suspected 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield. Stanfield was recently released on bail after spending a weekend behind bars when police raided his garage and found stolen cars.
He was also representing former Sotheby's boss Jason Rohde, who is accused of murdering his wife Susan.
Janos Mihalik, Pete's father, has also represented a number of alleged criminal bigwigs including then-28s boss George "Geweld" Thomas and Quinton "Mr Big" Marinus.
Mihalik's wife committed suicide about two years ago.
The veteran defence lawyer has a teenage daughter and an 8-year-old son. The boy was also injured in Tuesday's shooting. The child has been hospitalised but no further information on his condition is available.