‘Steroid King’ murder trial – killings of four accused add to witness Mr X’s mental health issues

In the murder trial of “Steroid King” Brian Wainstein, the Western Cape High Court heard on Monday, 18 November 2024 that several factors led to the recurrence of State witness Mr X’s mental health issues –spilling the beans, testifying against alleged underworld figures, being perceived as a snitch, the murder of people associated with the case, and fearing for his life.

Murdered ‘Steroid King’ Brian Wainstein. (Photo: Supplied)

On Monday, the State handed in a psychological report on the crucial witness. The report cannot be made public at this stage, but confirms a psychiatrist’s earlier diagnosis that Mr X is, for now, unable to testify.

Previously, the court heard that a psychiatrist’s assessment found Mr X was unfit to testify while a psychologist found he could continue. The psychologist has now agreed that the witness is unfit to take the stand.

Mr X has been booked off until 2 December and the specialists will update the court on whether increased medication improves his condition.

Despite this setback, the trial will resume on Tuesday, with the State aiming to present mobile phone evidence tying all 13 accused to the case.

Mr X’s mental health issues are not new. Before the start of the Wainstein murder trial, during previous court appearances in the lower court, it was mentioned that Mr X had a mental disorder and also suffered from epileptic seizures.

Mr X is facing several charges, including the murder of Wainstein, and has testified intermittently since April. The court has barred the publishing of his identity.

Read more: Lifman killing aftermath — ‘anxious’ State witness temporarily unfit to testify in ‘Steroid King’ murder trial

Mr X’s evidence

At the time of Wainstein’s murder, Mr X was his bodyguard. He admitted that he betrayed Wainstein and assisted in the plot to kill him in 2017.

By turning State witness, Mr X is seeking indemnity from the charges against him, but is compelled to tell the truth. Judge Vincent Saldanha will decide whether to acquit him at the end of the trial.

The late Mark Lifman and Jerome “Donkie” Booysen, the alleged leader of the Sexy Boys gang, were the main accused in the murder trial of Wainstein, who was shot and killed at his home in Constantia, Cape Town in August 2017.

The grave of underworld figure Mark Lifman in the Pinelands Jewish Cemetery in Cape Town on 9 November 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / Die Burger / Jaco Marais)

Booysen, with co-accused Andre Naude, Sam Farquharson, Egan Morgan, alleged corrupt police detective Wayne Henderson, Ricardo Maarman, Typhenne Jantjies, Bevan Ezaus, Bradley de Bula, Kashief Hanslo, Rowendal Stevens, Ismail Cupido and a Russian, Igor Russol, face 36 counts which include attempted murder, intimidation, gang activities, the illegal possession of ammunition and firearms, contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, contributing towards gang activity and aiding and abetting criminal activities.

Prosecutors contend that Lifman paid to have Wainstein killed and that he and others profited from the illegal steroid trade, which continued after Wainstein’s death. In April 2024, both pleaded not guilty to conspiring to murder.

Read more: Watch – Mark Lifman: His voice notes and letter of demand sent just days before his assassination

Shortly after Lifman’s murder earlier in November, the court heard last week that Mr X had been declared unfit to testify, and advocate Amanda Nel, appearing for co-accused Booysen and Naude, linked the State witness’s anxiety to Lifman’s death.

Accused under fire

It is the State’s version that a host of factors exacerbated Mr X’s illness – including stress and anxiety caused by the killing of people implicated in the case and Mr X being taunted by the accused in court.

However, one cannot ignore the damning evidence. Mr X has testified about the late Lifman and Booysen’s alleged involvement in Wainstein’s murder. He’s also claimed alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield quizzed him on details of Wainstein’s murder with the intent of taking over the lucrative steroid business.

Ralph Stanfield (foreground) at the Cape Town Regional Court on 16 September 2023. (Photo: Gallo Images / Die Burger / Jaco Marais)

The court has also heard from Mr X that when he began helping co-accused Farquharson with debt collection, “They were paid by Lifman or Wainstein to go and intimidate people who owed them money.”

So far, four accused linked to the Wainstein murder trial have been killed. Other than Lifman, the following were murdered:

1. On Thursday, 13 October 2022, accused number eight, Anthony “Amier” van der Watt, died in a hail of bullets on the corner of Prince George Drive and Peach Street in the Cape Flats suburb of Retreat.


2. On 2 February 2021, William “Red” Stevens, a 27s leader, who was accused number three, was shot dead in front of his home in Kraaifontein. Mr X is also an alleged 27s gang member.


3. In March 2021, Jason Maits was gunned down outside his house in Mitchells Plain. With alleged links to the 27s, Maits was among the 16 people arrested in connection with the murder of Wainstein.

The trial continues on Tuesday. The State intends to provide cellphone evidence tying together all the accused. However, the accused’s defence have already signalled that they would oppose the admissibility of this evidence.

A trial-within-a-trial will then be held, and based on the evidence from the arguments by the State and the defence lawyers, Judge Saldanha will rule on the admissibility of the cellphone evidence. DM