Surgeon Peter Beale found not guilty of murder
The surgeon was accused of the murder of three children whom he operated on in 2012, 2016 and 2019 respectively.
Murder-accused paediatric surgeon Peter Beale appeared in the Johannesburg High Court on 29 January 2024. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Paediatric surgeon, Peter Beale, has been found not guilty for the murder of three children and two counts of fraud.
Judgment was handed down in the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Beale operated on the children, aged three, twenty-one months and ten in 2012, 2016 and 2019, respectively.
A six-year court battle which divided the medical fraternity has finally come to an end.
Beale was found not guilty for the murder of three of his minor patients who died shortly after he operated on them.
The children, the youngest being 21 months old, underwent surgeries by Beale in 2012, 2016 and 2019, respectively.
Beale was subsequently arrested and charged in 2019 after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) combined the dockets and sought to take him to task.
In a scathing three-hour long judgment, Judge Mudau, poked holes in the case of the state, saying they failed to present a solid case beyond a reasonable doubt in respect of the charges against Beale.
BREAKING| Surgeon, Professor Peter Beale, accused of “unlawfully and intentionally” causing the death of three children (2012, 2016 & 2019) after operating on them, has been found not guilty on all five counts in the Joburg high court. Two of fraud and three of murder. pic.twitter.com/hgO0pmj8JK
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 4, 2025