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| Oscar Pistorius magistrate warns against 'trial by media' | Oscar Pistorius magistrate warns against 'trial by media' |
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| A South African magistrate has warned against the "trial by media" of Oscar Pistorius as the athlete accused of murder appeared in court for the first time since his release on bail. | A South African magistrate has warned against the "trial by media" of Oscar Pistorius as the athlete accused of murder appeared in court for the first time since his release on bail. |
| Wearing a grey suit, pale blue shirt and dark patterned tie, Pistorius was clean shaven and composed on Tuesday as he returned to the dock in Pretoria for a 15-minute hearing. His case was postponed until 19 August. | Wearing a grey suit, pale blue shirt and dark patterned tie, Pistorius was clean shaven and composed on Tuesday as he returned to the dock in Pretoria for a 15-minute hearing. His case was postponed until 19 August. |
| But the magistrate Daniel Thulare used the opportunity to lambast the media – including those from overseas – for threatening the "fountains of justice" and "sanctity" of the South African courts. | |
| "Just like any other literate South African I also read newspapers," he said. "It would appear there is somewhat a trial by the media houses of Mr Pistorius." | "Just like any other literate South African I also read newspapers," he said. "It would appear there is somewhat a trial by the media houses of Mr Pistorius." |
| He continued: "It would appear some of the activities may amount, if not to scandalising the court system in the republic, then to contempt of court." | He continued: "It would appear some of the activities may amount, if not to scandalising the court system in the republic, then to contempt of court." |
| The intense coverage of the case after Pistorius was charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February took many around the world by surprise. One frequently cited explanation is that South Africa does not have a jury system and that judges are seen as less vulnerable to being swayed. | The intense coverage of the case after Pistorius was charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February took many around the world by surprise. One frequently cited explanation is that South Africa does not have a jury system and that judges are seen as less vulnerable to being swayed. |
| But a series of reports and rumours in the South African and British press climaxed last week with the leaking of photos of Pistorius's blood-splattered bathroom to Sky News. Police said they were "disgusted" by the leak while the Pistorius family described themselves as "shaken". | But a series of reports and rumours in the South African and British press climaxed last week with the leaking of photos of Pistorius's blood-splattered bathroom to Sky News. Police said they were "disgusted" by the leak while the Pistorius family described themselves as "shaken". |
| On Monday, Britain's Channel 5 broadcast a programme entitled Why Did Oscar Pistorius Kill Our Daughter? in which Steenkamp's parents, Barry and June, said "there is only one person who knows what happened" on the night their "terrified" daughter was killed. | On Monday, Britain's Channel 5 broadcast a programme entitled Why Did Oscar Pistorius Kill Our Daughter? in which Steenkamp's parents, Barry and June, said "there is only one person who knows what happened" on the night their "terrified" daughter was killed. |
| Addressing the packed court on Tuesday, Thulare said pointedly: "It is important that we invite our colleagues around the world to make sure we all respect the processes of the Republic of South Africa." | Addressing the packed court on Tuesday, Thulare said pointedly: "It is important that we invite our colleagues around the world to make sure we all respect the processes of the Republic of South Africa." |
| He asked the national prosecuting authority (NPA) to "seriously look" at whether any of the coverage of the case amounted to "either a scandalous conduct towards the courts or outright contempt of court". | |
| Earlier Pistorius, who has kept an extremely low profile since his release on bail more than three months ago, entered the court to a cacophony of camera clicks and flashes. He stood straight-backed in the dock, hardly an arm's length from 30 photographers and TV cameramen who turned their lenses on him. | Earlier Pistorius, who has kept an extremely low profile since his release on bail more than three months ago, entered the court to a cacophony of camera clicks and flashes. He stood straight-backed in the dock, hardly an arm's length from 30 photographers and TV cameramen who turned their lenses on him. |
| Sitting in the public gallery, the athlete's coach Ampie Louw expressed his discomfort at the scene, saying it was "like he's being torn apart". At another point Louw gave Pistorius a thumbs-up sign, prompting the ghost of a smile in return. | Sitting in the public gallery, the athlete's coach Ampie Louw expressed his discomfort at the scene, saying it was "like he's being torn apart". At another point Louw gave Pistorius a thumbs-up sign, prompting the ghost of a smile in return. |
| The 26-year-old runner also spoke with family members before the hearing began. His brother Carl, sister Aimee and uncle Arnold, as well as Arnold's daughters, were among those present. | The 26-year-old runner also spoke with family members before the hearing began. His brother Carl, sister Aimee and uncle Arnold, as well as Arnold's daughters, were among those present. |
| In the absence of any discussion about the events leading to Steenkamp's death, there was none of the raw emotion of previous court appearances that saw Pistorius repeatedly tremble and sob. He remained expressionless for most of the hearing. | In the absence of any discussion about the events leading to Steenkamp's death, there was none of the raw emotion of previous court appearances that saw Pistorius repeatedly tremble and sob. He remained expressionless for most of the hearing. |
| The Paralympic and Olympic athlete is accused of murdering Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, on 14 February at his luxury home in Pretoria. Pistorius has said he shot Steenkamp through a bathroom door thinking an intruder was inside his house. | The Paralympic and Olympic athlete is accused of murdering Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, on 14 February at his luxury home in Pretoria. Pistorius has said he shot Steenkamp through a bathroom door thinking an intruder was inside his house. |
| The prosecutor Andrea Johnson asked for a postponement of the hearing to allow for further investigation of the case. Thulare agreed, saying that Pistorius's bail conditions would remain the same and he should return to court on 19 August. By coincidence that date would have been Steenkamp's 30th birthday. | |
| Asked if he understood the magistrate's instructions, Pistorius replied: "Yes, Your Honour." | Asked if he understood the magistrate's instructions, Pistorius replied: "Yes, Your Honour." |
| After the accused had walked from the dock, his lawyer Brian Webber backed the magistrate, describing media coverage as "grossly over the top and absolutely disproportionate". He added: "I do think we should follow the rules of court and respect the sanctity of the court." | After the accused had walked from the dock, his lawyer Brian Webber backed the magistrate, describing media coverage as "grossly over the top and absolutely disproportionate". He added: "I do think we should follow the rules of court and respect the sanctity of the court." |
| The "Blade Runner" is expected to stand trial later this year or early next year. Medupe Simasiku, a spokesman for the NPA, said: "We anticipate that before or by August the police will have completed their investigation. That is when the trial date will be set. It will depend on what is outstanding. If everything is in place, we hope that it may be this year." | The "Blade Runner" is expected to stand trial later this year or early next year. Medupe Simasiku, a spokesman for the NPA, said: "We anticipate that before or by August the police will have completed their investigation. That is when the trial date will be set. It will depend on what is outstanding. If everything is in place, we hope that it may be this year." |
| He added: "The status of the investigation is currently sensitive. We believe the police are doing a great job. Up to so far we don't have any doubts about the progress of this case. Everything is on track and running smoothly." | He added: "The status of the investigation is currently sensitive. We believe the police are doing a great job. Up to so far we don't have any doubts about the progress of this case. Everything is on track and running smoothly." |
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