Cape Town - Top Cape Town defence lawyer William Booth has laid a charge of intimidation after his life was threatened.
Police have confirmed they are investigating after the legal eagle received a chilling note in his mailbox.
The Daily Voice understands the threat was made up of letters cut from newspapers and read: “You are Next.”
It was delivered to his home last week, and Booth went to lay a charge at Diep River SAPS last Thursday.
On Monday Booth told Daily Voice he did not want talk about the matter.
The threat on Booth’s life comes weeks after his colleague Noorudien Hassan was shot outside his home in Crawford.
Hassan represented several high-flyers including convicted murderer and 28s gang boss Saliem John, Hanover Park gang kingpin Cecil “Ses” Brown and Leon Small, who police say is a leading figure in the Sexy Boys gang. His list of clients also included alleged gang boss Ralph Stanfield and businessman Irshaad Laher, who is suspected of supplying guns to Cape gangsters.
After Hassan’s murder, Booth said it was worrying that lawyers were being targeted, and urged colleagues to be careful. ”It is a sad day for lawyers,” he said.
This is not the first time Booth has received death threats.
In October last year, he was reportedly threatened for defending two men accused of sexually molesting children. At least five letters were delivered to his office and home.
Like the recent letter, those ones were also cut out of reading material and pasted on a sheet of paper.
Last week the Cape Law Society condemned Hassan’s murder and expressed shock at remarks made by the People Against Gangsterism and Drugs, who said Hassan got what he deserved for representing gangsters.
President of the Society, Mbulelo Jolwana, said lawyers should be free to represent any accused person without fear.
”The rights of all citizens to be represented by lawyers of their choice would be impossible to exercise freely, if lawyers were to choose which accused person to represent based on the fear of the possibility of being murdered if they represented certain accused persons.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed a case of intimidation has been opened for investigation. ”No one has been arrested as of yet,” she added.
Daily Voice