Thabo Bester, a notorious South African rapist and murderer, is attempting to prevent Netflix from airing a documentary titled “Beauty and the Bester,” which explores his life, including allegations that he faked his death and escaped from prison. Bester’s legal team argues that the documentary is defamatory, while Netflix plans to proceed with the release.
Bester was convicted in 2012 for the rape and murder of his girlfriend, Nomfundo Tyhulu, and had prior convictions for raping two other women. He became infamous as the “Facebook rapist” for utilizing the social media platform to lure his victims. In 2022, while serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison, Bester allegedly escaped following a fire that resulted in authorities discovering a charred body they initially believed to be his. Subsequent investigations revealed it was someone else.
The documentary also features Bester’s partner, Nandipha Magudumana, who is accused of helping him evade capture. Both were arrested in Tanzania in April 2023 and have since been deported to South Africa, where they currently await trial on multiple charges, including fraud and violations related to a corpse. They have not yet entered pleas to these charges.
Bester’s attorney, Advocate Moafrika Wa Maila, claims that the documentary undermines his right to a fair trial and challenges the accuracy of its content regarding Bester’s alleged escape. In contrast, Netflix’s legal representative asserts that the documentary will provide a platform for victims, allowing their voices to be heard after years of silence. The High Court’s ruling on whether to block the documentary is expected shortly before its scheduled release. Bester’s case has drawn significant public attention due to the high rates of sexual assault in South Africa.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9je7j9k83o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss