WATCH | William Booth details fight for his life in CT gangsters trial

CAPE TOWN - Well known lawyer, William Booth, told the Western Cape High Court how hitmen came to his house in April 2020 and fired five shots at him.

Booth was called as a witness for the state in the criminal trial of alleged Cape Town underworld boss, Nafiz Modack, former rugby player, Zane Kilian, and 13 others.

Together they face multiple charges including murder, attempted murder, fraud, corruption, extortion and money laundering.

They’ve pleaded not guilty to all the charges, including the murder of anti-gang unit investigator, Charl Kinnear, who was investigating Modack and police corruption at the time of his death.

Kinnear was gunned down outside his house in September 2020.

Ayesha Ismail has been covering this case for us and brings us the latest.

On Monday the Western Cape High Court heard from a witness testifying virtually from Dubai about how he fled Cape Town following death threats, from one of the accused Jacques Cronje.

William Booth, was the witness' lawyer at the time and assisted him with getting a protection order against Cronje and an unhappy investor.

Booth said due to the nature of his work he had received a few threatening messages over the years.

But on 9 April 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, hitmen came to his house early in the morning.

The hitmen, have already been sentenced after they entered into a plea bargain with the state.

They were allegedly sent by Nafiz Modack.

And the state says Zane Kilian pinged Booth’s phone to establish his location.

The case continues.