The deaths of 3 patients operated on by Beale is 'regrettable' says judge

JOHANNESBURG - The deaths of three minor patients, operated on by paediatric surgeon, Professor Peter Beale, is “regrettable.”

These were the parting words from Judge Thifhelimbilu Mudua after he found Beale not guilty on three counts of murder and two counts of fraud in the Joburg High Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Beale who was arrested in 2019 was charged with the murders of three of his patients, aged three, 21 months and 10.

The children died,  shortly after he operated on them.

READ: Surgeon Peter Beale found not guilty of murder

Mudua concluded his three-hour long judgment with a few words for the families of the victims.

 "What would be the right words to say? It’s very difficult, we are also parents. We regret the loss. The loss of life is always regrettable and I wanted to echo that. I don’t want to say anything beyond that."