Paul Kennedy, a well-known advocate, was found dead on Monday. He was due to appear at the Gauteng High Court next week on a number of charges which included sexual assault and child pornography.
It is unknown how he died.
Kennedy, who has previously been an acting judge, was facing over 700 charges, along with one other person. Kennedy was charged with sexual assault and rape of a minor, as well as charges relating to the creation and distribution of child pornography.
The crimes were allegedly committed between September 2020 and July 2021. Kennedy was arrested and charged in July 2021 and has been out on bail of R20 000.
Kennedy was not named in earlier reporting of the case as he and his co-accused had not pleaded.
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