The Nelson Mandela Foundation sent its “deepest condolences to the family‚ friends and comrades of Sir Bob Hepple QC”‚ who was once Madiba’s legal advisor and one of the original Rivonia Trial-accused. Hepple‚ who died on August 21 after a short illness‚ served as “Mandela’s legal advisor through his 1962 trial for leaving the country without a passport and inciting a strike”‚ the foundation said.“While Mandela conducted his own defence he asked Hepple to provide legal support after (late South African Communist Party leader) Joe Slovo was forbidden from attending the case in Pretoria.“The case became known as the ‘Black man in a white man’s court’ trial after Mandela’s first speech from the dock in which he applied for the magistrates’ recusal on the grounds that he felt he would not receive a fair trial.”Mandela was sentenced to five years in prison.“Hepple was also one of the original Rivonia Trial-accused charged with sabotage. After creating the impression that he would turn state witness‚ he was discharged on 30 October 1963 and left South Africa soon afterwards. He never testified.“Mandela‚ Walter Sisulu‚ Ahmed Kathrada‚ Andrew Mlangeni‚ Raymond Mhlaba‚ Govan Mbeki‚ Elias Motsoaledi and Denis Goldberg were convicted on 11 June 1964 and the next day sentenced to life imprisonment.“Hepple went on to become a professor of law at Cambridge University in England and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004 for his services to legal studies.“In 2014‚ he received the Order of Luthuli in Gold from President Jacob Zuma for his contribution to South Africa’s struggle for democracy and human rights.“In 2013‚ he published his memoir Young Man with a Red Tie: Memoir of Mandela and the Failed Revolution 1960 – 1963.“Hamba kahle and rest in peace Comrade Sir Bob.”..