Tears flowed at the Western Cape High Court on Monday as murder-accused, Mark Lifman was officially declared dead after being shot in George on Sunday.
Lifman, 57, was set to return to the court on Monday, where he is on trial for the murder of slain steroid king Brian Wainstein along with several others.
The popular businessman from Fresnaye was gunned down at Garden Route Mall on Sunday afternoon while walking to his bakkie.
On Monday morning, cameras swarmed the courtroom as Lifman’s friends and co-accused including Andre Naude and Jerome ‘Donkie’ Booysen could be seen visibly upset in the dock.
Legal representatives were seen saying their condolences to Lifman’s legal team as they sat with tears in their eyes waiting for Judge Vincent Saldanha to arrive.
State prosecutor Advocate Mervyn Menigo addressed the court saying due to the murder the State would be requesting a postponement of the trial to deal with administrative issues such as obtaining the death certificate and to allow his legal team to withdraw.
“The more heavy submission I have to make is that Accused 1 was murdered in George yesterday. His life was taken and the matter is under investigation.”
Addressing the court, Lifman's lawyer, Advocate Estelle Kilian, was visibly upset as she withdrew from the trial.
“I confirm the passing of my client. I therefore do not have any further instructions, I withdraw from the matter,” Kilian said.
Saldanha expressed his condolences to the family and friends of Lifman saying; “The Court wishes to express condolences to the family of your client and I speak on behalf of all of the court staff and needless to say from the State and defence on the tragic circumstances of which your client has passed. It is a tragedy that anyone needs to die in such circumstances”.
The trial was postponed to next Monday. It is unclear at this stage if any of the charges on the indictment will be withdrawn.
Lifman and others are facing an array of charges linked to the murder of Wainstein and underworld clashes linked to nightclub security in Cape Town.
He is the fourth accused in the mammoth trial to be killed in recent years.
Shortly after the arrest of Lifman, Booysen and alleged 27s gang boss William “Red” Stevens were granted bail of R100,000. But in February 2021 Stevens was gunned down outside his home in Rembrandt Street, Kraaifontein.
The notorious underworld figure, who was known for his full face of tattoos and affiliations with other underworld figures, was declared dead on the scene and years later two alleged henchmen of alleged 28s gang boss, Ralph Stanfield, were charged for the murder.
A month later another accused Jason Maits was shot and killed while leaving his home in Westridge.
More than a year later another accused, Anthony Ameer van der Watt, was shot and killed while travelling along on the M5 highway.
The incident on October 6, 2022, saw the road being blocked off as cops questioned Van der Watt’s driver and his death was later confirmed during the pretrial hearings.
Police have yet to confirm if the hitmen rumoured to have been caught after Lifman’s shooting have been arrested.
Cape Argus