No live broadcast of Oscar case

Oscar Pistorius, centre, is led from the Boschkop police station to the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. Photo: AP

Oscar Pistorius, centre, is led from the Boschkop police station to the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. Photo: AP

Published Feb 15, 2013

Share

Pretoria - Pretoria magistrate Desmond Nair has ruled against live broadcasts of Oscar Pistorius's court appearance on a charge of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

“There will be no live recordings of these proceedings,” said Nair on Friday, as Pistorius sat nearby, jaw clenched.

Nair allowed photographs to be taken when the court was not in session, as well as audio of argument and judgment.

He immediately proceeded to argument over whether the case was a Schedule five or six offence under the Criminal Procedure Act.

Earlier Pistorius started crying after entering the Pretoria Magistrate's Court for his appearance.

Wearing a dark suit, he put his hands to his mouth and started crying after Nair greeted him.

Top prosecutor Gerrie Nel stood nearby.

Nair told him to be calm, and Pistorius sat down.

The State read out a charge of murder and then his lawyer began proceedings with a discussion on the media coverage in the court.

Nair said he received a letter from public broadcaster the SABC to broadcast proceedings.

The SABC said if it wasn't possible to cover the proceedings directly, it would want to record before and after the proceedings.

Legal affairs reporter Karyn Maughan of e News Channel Africa (eNCA), made a request for eNCA and for other media to be allowed to cover proceedings.

Nair then ruled against live broadcasts of the case.

Pistorius's lawyer asked that the bail application be set down for next Tuesday or Wednesday.

This was to give the defence time to prepare and get forensic tests done which it believed would prove the crime is a Schedule 5 offence.

Nel said he supported the request for a postponement. - Sapa

Related Topics: