South African athletics star Oscar Pistorius' trial for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp has been adjourned until August 19.
Pistorius, 26, made his first formal appearance since his release on bail in February, for the Valentine's Day killing of his girlfriend, at a court hearing in Pretoria.
The prosecution team asked for the postponement, the state saying it needed time for further investigation.
Acting Chief Magistrate Daniel Thulare asked for the reasons for the postponement which prosecutor Andrea Johnson said could not be disclosed in public. But she says it had been discussed with the defence.
Thulare expressed concern about some of the reporting of the case and wanted to preserve the "sanctity of the fountains of justice". Thulare said 'this may scandalise the court processes and the administration of justice' and said the national prosecuting authority should look seriously at whether anyone has acted in such a way as to scandalise the court.
South Africa does not have trial by jury so pre-trial media coverage is seldom deemed to be prejudicial.
Pistorius, wearing a grey suit and a blue shirt, was released on his previous bail conditions. He said just three words during the hearing to confirm he understood the conditions. The BBC's Andrew Harding described his face 'a mask of concentration and neutrality throughout.'
Pistorius has mostly kept out of the public eye since he secured bail. Media reported that in April he partied at a nightclub in a Johannesburg suburb after his bail conditions were relaxed in March.
The Pistorius camp said the matter was blown out of proportion and he went out for a quiet dinner with friends after spending weeks in the house with family
Acting Chief Magistrate Daniel Thulare asked for the reasons for the postponement which prosecutor Andrea Johnson said could not be disclosed in public. But she says it had been discussed with the defence.
Thulare expressed concern about some of the reporting of the case and wanted to preserve the "sanctity of the fountains of justice". Thulare said 'this may scandalise the court processes and the administration of justice' and said the national prosecuting authority should look seriously at whether anyone has acted in such a way as to scandalise the court.
South Africa does not have trial by jury so pre-trial media coverage is seldom deemed to be prejudicial.
Pistorius, wearing a grey suit and a blue shirt, was released on his previous bail conditions. He said just three words during the hearing to confirm he understood the conditions. The BBC's Andrew Harding described his face 'a mask of concentration and neutrality throughout.'
Pistorius has mostly kept out of the public eye since he secured bail. Media reported that in April he partied at a nightclub in a Johannesburg suburb after his bail conditions were relaxed in March.
The Pistorius camp said the matter was blown out of proportion and he went out for a quiet dinner with friends after spending weeks in the house with family
Itunu u n dis Pistorius, wetin him collect from u
ReplyDeleteNa wa! wats all dis hanki panki all abt.. whosoever kills by the gun, shud die by the gun. C'est la vie
ReplyDeletehe had the bloody guts 2 party.. what a wicked world we live in. death is to nice for a guy dat shot his 'babe' four bloody times.. i want him to be locked up for life, without food or water or air
ReplyDeletethis case aint dat difficult.. he was aware his wife was in the rum, if u hear muvment.. discretion wld av suggested 2 him dat it cud be his wife, a normal person's 1st reaction wlb like .. honey are u there? baby hope u r safe.. buh he bloodily killed her so deserves 2 die
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