One of Cape Town’s top criminal defence attorneys, William Booth, survived an assassination attempt outside his home this morning.
Booth had reportedly been inside his garage and was behind his wife’s vehicle when two gunmen wearing surgical masks opened fire on him just after 7.30 am.
He was unharmed. The suspects fled the scene from the house in Higgovale, Cape Town.
Cops are still on the scene, which has been cordoned off since this morning.
Police on the scene outside Booth's home. Video: Leon Knipe
Police spokesperson, Colonel Andre Traut says they have yet to make arrests. “The circumstances surrounding an attempted murder are under police investigation following an incident at the Higgovale residence of a lawyer this morning at 7:30am.
“Two armed suspects wearing surgical masks fired shots at the victim, but failed in their attempt and fortunately missed.
“They fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.”
Top Cape lawyer William Booth outside his home. Picture: Leon Knipe
The attempt on Booth’s life follows a string of deadly attacks on high profile lawyers in the Cape.
In November 2016, Booth opened a case of intimidation with police after he received a threatening letter stating “you’re next.” Booth, who has covered many high profile cases, has refused to comment.
The threat came shortly after the murder of Advocate Noorudien Hassan.
Hassan was shot and killed while seated inside his car in front of his Lansdowne home in November 2016.
Noorudien Hassan
This was followed by the murder of Advocate Pete Mihalik, 50, who was gunned down outside of his children's school in Green Point on 30 October 2018.
Mihalik, 50, and his girlfriend, Tasmin Tobitt, were dropping off his kids at Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard in Cavalcade Road.
While the family was seated in his black Mercedes Benz SUV, the gunman pulled up in a vehicle and walked up to Mihalik and shot him in the head through the driver’s window.
The same bullet hit Mihalik’s nine-year-old son in the face, and the bullet was still stuck in his jaw.
Mihalik died at the scene while his son was rushed to the New Somerset Hospital, stabilised and then transferred to a private facility.
Pete Mihalik
In May last year, criminal attorney David Mbazwana was shot dead at a spaza shop in Khayelitsha in what looked like a robbery.
Mbazwana, 38, was one of the lawyers for Grant Veroni, of the company Skhosana Maponyane Hall Phillips and Khumalo, trading as The Security Group (TSG).
TSG is the company of alleged underworld kingpins Nafiz Modack and Colin Booysen, who authorities accuse of trying to violently take over the local nightclub security industry.
GUNNED DOWN: Lawyer David Mbazwana, 38. Photo: Supplied
In December 2019, Advocate Vernon Jantjies was shot and killed outside of his linen shop in Lentegeur, Mitchell’s Plain.