Five people accused of trying to kill Advocate William Booth have appeared in absentia at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Four suspects - Kauthar Brown, 35, Ebrahim Deare, 36, Riyaad Gesant, 32, Igsaan Williams, 57 - said they are preparing to appoint legal aid lawyers while Kim Smith, 32, has yet to indicate anything about her legal representation.
The five face charges of attempted murder, the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and being in contravention of the Disaster Manangement Act.
For the latter, each of the accused face six months behind bars or a fine of R20 000, for being outside during the lockdown.
Their case was postponed to 22 May for their lawyers to come on board.
They were traced to Albert Road in Woodstock after being caught on CCTV footage in Booth’s Higgovale neighbourhood.
FILM: Two suspects caught on CCTV cameras in the vicinity of Booth's Higgovale home
In April, three days before the attack on Booth, two suspects were caught on surveillance cameras being dropped off in a white Hyundai Credo.
The vehicle had a temporary GP number plate.
Booth, one of Cape Town’s foremost criminal defence attorneys, was shot at while being in his garage.
Booth has refused to comment.
The attack was the latest in a spate of attacks on Cape Town lawyers.
Victims include Advocate Pete Mihalik, 50, who was gunned down outside his children’s school in Green Point in October 2018, as well as Advocate Vernon Jantjies who was shot and killed outside his linen shop in Lentegeur in December 2019.