South African Court Nears Verdict on Netflix Thabo Bester Documentary

Thabo Bester, a convicted rapist and murderer known as the 'Facebook rapist,' and his partner Dr. Nandipha Magudumana have filed urgent legal action to block the release of the Netflix documentary series 'Beauty and the Bester,' which explores Bester's alleged prison escape and subsequent arrest. Their lawyers argue that airing the documentary before their criminal trial concludes violates their constitutional rights to a fair trial, dignity, and the presumption of innocence, asserting that the series portrays Bester as guilty and could influence witnesses and the trial judge. Magudumana's legal team also contested the validity of her contract with the documentary producers, despite her having received payment for archive material used. Netflix, defended by Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, maintains that the documentary does not defame Bester, emphasizing his prior convictions and asserting that public interest justifies the release. The Pretoria High Court reserved judgment on the matter to be delivered shortly before the documentary's scheduled global release, weighing the balance between constitutional rights and freedom of expression. The case highlights tensions between media portrayal of high-profile criminal cases and the rights of accused individuals during ongoing trials.