Cape Town - The former bodyguard of slain “Steroid King” Brian Wainstein has accused Nicole Johnson of smuggling steroids prior to his death.
The shocking claim by the State witness was made in the Western Cape High Court yesterday, as the murder trial dating back to August 2017 resumed.
The bodyguard, who may not be named, has taken to the stand in recent months to tell a harrowing tale of how he turned on his former boss and plotted his murder.
Wainstein was shot dead in his Constantia home in August 2017 while sleeping next to his wife and child. At the time of his murder, he was named in Interpol’s Most Wanted list, as he allegedly fled the US.
In the mammoth underworld trial, the State has brought Wainstein’s former bodyguard to outline his links to the 27s gang as well as Jerome ‘Donkie’ Booysen and Mark Lifman.
In his version, the bodyguard undertook to betray Wainstein in a bid to take over the steroid trade, but admitted the business flopped after the murder.
The bodyguard, along with his brother and Kishor “Kamal” Naidoo, allegedly set-up the plan to murder Wainstein and allegedly allowed hitmen onto the property in their absence.
In an earlier testimony, he told the court that Johnson and her husband, alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield, were friends of Wainstein and admitted to telling Stanfield lies to avoid being implicated in the murder.
Yesterday, a telephone call between Johnson and the bodyguard in the days leading-up to Wainstein’s funeral was aired in court. In the call, she is heard asking the bodyguard about different types of steroids.
In his testimony, he claimed Johnson was his client and that Stanfield knew he was in contact with her.
He was not sure if Stanfield was aware of their business dealings, but he told the court that she had purchased steroids worth R200 000 and would call him with instructions.
“She was a client of mine. “She had given me R200000 for a certain amount of steroids to sell on her behalf. She had a personal trainer at Virgin Active in Sea Point and would tell me when she wanted me to deliver to him.”
The trial continues.
mahira.duval@inl.co.za
Cape Argus