In Fruit of a Poisoned Tree Anthony Altbeker writes about murder trial that ruled the headlines and riveted readers for 10 months during 2007, when Fred van der Vyver was charged with using an ornamental hammer to bludgeon his girlfriend, Inge Lotz, to death.

All the evidence seemed to point to Van der Vyver's guilt: fingerprints, the alleged murder weapon, blood stains. Yet, in spite of the evidence of leading international forensic investigators testified, and a defence bill of more than R10 million, Van der Vyver was acquitted.

Antony Albeker, author of A Country at War with Itself, his insightful and informed work on policing in South Africa, was in court for the full trial. Fruit of a Poisoned Tree is his account of the forensic fiasco that has changed and damaged lives, and left both affected families -- the Van der Vyvers and the Lotzes, with no sense that justice has been done.

Join us at Kalk Bay Books for the launch of Fruit of a Poisoned Tree, when Antony Altbeker will discuss his book and the implications it holds for the South African justice system.