Peter Beale describes as 'tragic' deaths of patients he stands accused of murdering

JOHANNESBURG - Paediatric surgeon Peter Beale has described the deaths of patients he now stands accused of murdering as 'tragedies'.

Beale is on trial in the Johannesburg High Court for the murder of three children who all died after he operated on them.

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The State accused him of reckless conduct.

He took the stand in his defence on Thursday.

So far, Beale’s testimony is focused on two of the three cases he’s charged with: ten-year-old Zayaan Sayed and another three-year-old boy, who can’t be identified as per a court order.

In both matters, he’s accused of misrepresenting to the children’s parents that they had conditions they, in fact, did not. He has, however, denied wrongdoing.

Testifying about the night of Zayaan’s passing, Beale on Thursday described it as “very upsetting, tragic, and unexpected”.

Asked about his recollection of the three-year-old’s case, which dates back more than 10 years now, he said “tragic” events like the one at hand were “indelibly imprinted on one’s mind”.

The case resumes on Friday, with Beale still on the stand.