On Monday 4 March the whole world’s eyes will be on South Africa again when the murder trial of paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius starts.
Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013 but was released on bail
Although Pistorius had opposed the application by broadcasters (Primedia, Multichoice and three print media houses) to televise and radio broadcast the trial live, in the North Gauteng High Court on 25 February Judge Dunstan Mlambo ruled in favour of the media.
The ruling has been hailed as groundbreaking for the principles of open justice.
Mlambo has set strict rules though for the media to adhere to.
According to Mlambo he found that it was in the interest of the public to broadcast the trial, especially to dispel the myth that the rich and famous get treated with kid gloves by the justice system.
