Mark Lifman, Jerome Booysen, and Andre Naude appear in the Western Cape High Court. The suspects face a host of charges, including the Brian Wainstein murder, conspiracy to commit murder, money laundering, conspiracy to incite people to public violence, possession of unlicenced firearms and corruption and obstruction of justice. (Jaco Marais/Gallo Images/Die Burger)
A typical scene in films and series involves a stressed protagonist stomping on his burner phone or even dropping it in a dustbin with a furtive look to the side through the edges of a hoodie drawn over his head.
In an FBI control room across town, the lead detective will put his finger to his earpiece and let out a frustrating “We’ve lost him!” as field agents nose through narrow streets, hoping to find the elusive target.
Based on the testimony of Mr X in the Western Cape High Court trial of Mark Lifman and others charged with being part of a conspiracy to murder steroid dealer Brian Wainstein, the “burner phone” appears to have become an essential item in certain clandestine businesses.
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