Cape Town - Cellphone records of the bodyguard of slain “Steroid King” Brian Wainstein have revealed links between him and alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield and his henchmen.
The bodyguard, who may not be named, returned to the stand in the Western Cape High Court yesterday, as the murder trial resumed.
Earlier this year, the bodyguard admitted betraying Wainstein and taking over his steroid business, but failed.
He told the court he was stationed at Wainstein’s home in Constantia to help keep him safe and also fingered various high-profile suspects including Mark Lifman, Jerome “Donkie” Booysen and international fugitive Kishor “Kamal” Naidoo as being behind the assassination.
In his testimony, the witness described meetings and calls where plans to murder Wainstein were discussed and even admitted to betraying his former boss by helping plan his murder. The contact list on his cellphone showed he was in contact with Stanfield and had also saved multiple numbers for his wife Nicole Johnson.
When asked to explain names saved on his phone, which included “28”, he said the first belonged to a man known as “Ernest”, who he claimed was Stanfield’s right-hand man.
He further explained that he was in contact with Warren-Lee Dennis, whom he claimed worked for Stanfield.
Dennis was thrust into the spotlight in June after he was busted for the murder of slain City staffer Wendy Kloppers, who was shot at the Delft housing site amid extortion attempts.
The State also released some calls between the bodyguard and Naidoo, as the State witness explained there was an elaborate plan by Naidoo to prevent being linked to the murder.
In his description, he told the court that despite being part of the plot to murder Wainstein, Naidoo instructed the bodyguard to call him the next day where he could pretend to be shocked.
Chuckles were heard when Naidoo was also heard saying that he never really liked Wainstein but that he was “alright”.
The bodyguard told the court that Naidoo and others were worried about police tapping their phones and were always careful, but he claimed this call was staged as he knew the bodyguard would be recording it.
The trial continues.
mahira.duval@inl.co.za
Cape Argus