South African Justice Minister Jeff Radebe was correct when he pointed out during his media briefing that the South African criminal justice system and Constitution would ensure that Shrien Dewani need have no concern about his right to a fair trial. This must not however detract from the fact that Police Chief General Bheki Cele […]
Michael Trapido
Mike Trapido is a criminal attorney and publicist having also worked as an editor and journalist.
He was born in Johannesburg and attended HA Jack and Highlands North High Schools.
He married Robyn in 1984 (Mrs Traps, aka "the government") and has three sons (who all look suspiciously like her ex-boss).
He was a counsellor on the JCCI for a year around 1992.
His passions include Derby County, Blue Bulls, Orlando Pirates, Proteas and Springboks.
He takes Valium in order to cope with Bafana Bafana's results.
Practice Michael Trapido Attorney (civil and criminal) 011 022 7332
Posted inNews/Politics
Dewani case: Torture claims misleading
The reports making headlines, both in South Africa and the United Kingdom, regarding the impact of the torture claims by two of the accused in the murder of Anni Dewani are misleading. Quite frankly, in Great Britain, South Africa, Europe and the rest of the world, police are frequently accused of torturing suspects into making […]
Posted inNews/Politics
A Protea Revolution?
President Jacob Zuma in an interview with Beeld newspaper published Thursday said that he is confident that South Africa would never become a Tunisia in reference to the ongoing service delivery protests. The president was quoted as saying : “I can tell you there will never be a Tunisia in South Africa. We have a […]
Posted inGeneral
‘Shoot the boer’: Our own Rwanda?
Professor Pierre de Vos, undoubtedly one of South Africa’s leading academics on constitutional law, says that it would be constitutionally impermissible to ban a song such as the “shoot the boer” one outright on the basis that it constitutes hate speech. The professor looks at Sections 10 and 12 of the Equality and Prevention of […]
Posted inNews/Politics
‘Shoot the boer’ should be banned
Bono, the frontman for Irish group U2, couldn’t help himself it seems and decided to enter the debate about the struggle song “shoot the boer” which had its moment during apartheid but now has no place in South Africa no matter where or when it is sung. In terms of the Afrikaner community the persistence […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Egyptian revolution or Islamic awakening?
The Egyptian uprising, which began on January 25, is aimed at ridding the country of President Hosni Mubarak and his National Democratic Party, who have maintained de facto one-party rule under an ongoing state of emergency. The regime was able to remain in power through the support of the West underpinned by substantial aid from […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Moe Shaik, WikiLeaks and the importance of a free media
The explosive allegations being made by News24 and City Press regarding a WikiLeaks cable which claims that spy boss Moe Shaik and President Jacob Zuma threatened to expose the “political skeletons” of Zuma’s enemies and alleges that Shaik was being cultivated by the Americans is all the proof South Africans will ever need to know […]
Posted inGeneral
UK commission mulls assisted dying
The Commission on Assisted Dying, being conducted by Lord Falconer in the United Kingdom, is focusing upon a highly controversial issue which will become more and more contentious as the 21st century unfolds. It’s aim is to consider what system, if any, should exist to allow people to be helped to die and whether changes […]
Posted inGeneral
Why is Dewani being compared to Shaik?
Judge Howard Riddle excused Shrien Dewani from attending Thursday’s preliminary extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court, which was postponed to February 8 for the purpose of the formal proceedings. As reported earlier today British publicist Max Clifford said that Shrien did not need to attend court because it is a 20-minute formality to fix a […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Hlophe would never be appointed to hear Dewani trial
Though it is physically possible for Judge John Hlophe to hear the murder trial of Anni Dewani, the Swedish beauty that was killed while on honeymoon in Cape Town, it will not even be in the contemplation of the South African judiciary. Shrien Dewani, assisted by British publicist Max Clifford and his legal team, are […]
Posted inGeneral
Think before you snoop
While hacking into your wife’s email account might be thoroughly enjoyable it can also be confining … such as at President Jacob Zuma’s finest correctional facility. Yes, I know there are things that you absolutely must check, eg. is she bonking around? But that doesn’t alter the fact that it could land you in jail. […]
Posted inGeneral
If extradited, Dewani faces judge not jury
One of the major differences between the South African and British criminal justice systems is the absence of a jury. In South Africa there is no option, as accused are tried before either a magistrate or a judge. Sometimes, in matters such as murder they may sit with assessors, but that is part of the […]