Alleged underworld kingpin Jerome 'Donkie' Booysen's trial to proceed despite Andre Naude's death: Analyst

CAPE TOWN - A legal expert says a criminal trial against alleged underworld gang boss Jerome "Donkie" Booysen and 11 others will proceed despite the murder of security boss Andre Naude.

The Anti-Gang Unit is investigating a case of murder after Naude was shot dead in Parow on Thursday.

Naude is the fifth accused in "Steroid King" Brian Wainstein's murder trial to be assassinated.

Naude's murder follows that of alleged underworld kingpin Mark Lifman, who was shot dead in George seven months ago.

Both deceased were on trial for the murder of "steroid king" Brian Wainstein, along with alleged underworld gang boss Jerome "Donkie" Booysen and 11 others.

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Naude is the fifth accused in the matter to be shot dead since Wainstein’s murder in 2017.

Legal expert Christhenus van der Vijver says it's a common occurrence in court cases, but the trial must go on.

"It can weaken the State's case, but not necessarily because I’m sure when the state decided to prosecute, say 10 people, they feel they've got a prima facie case against all 10 of them because you cannot rely [on the fact] that an accused will come and strengthen your case against another accused."  

Van der Vijver says even if the remaining accused blame the deceased for the crime, the State should still have a strong case to prosecute them.

A manhunt continues for those involved in the murder of Naude.

The Police's Frederick Van Wyk says a vehicle pulled up next to the deceased, who was with three other men at the time, and the occupants of the vehicle fired several shots.

“A 55-year-old man was killed and another aged 61 was wounded; two other males escaped injury. The wounded victim was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. No arrests have been affected yet. The motive for the shooting incident is the subject of the police investigation."