Pistorius media frenzy
Shandu Mulaudzi reports on the media frenzy in Pretoria ahead of murder-accused Oscar Pistorius’ court appearance.
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Members of the international and local press braved the morning cold and waited in their hundreds for Oscar Pistorius to arrive for his court appearance this morning.
The media was informed by officials at the Pretoria Magistrates Court that although 90 journalists had been accredited, only 60 people could be seated in court room C. Journalists left standing outside the courtroom were able to follow the proceedings on a big screen.Pistorius’ siblings Aimee and Carl were the first members of his family to arrive. While other members of the Pistorius arrived later in two Landrovers, neither, to the disappointment of the media, carried Pistorius.
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#OscarPistorius family arrive in two land rovers. Media surge towards them. No blade runner inside.… instagram.com/p/aIFvyQriU5/
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#Oscar: Journos are confused. One reporting he’s coming in the front door. Other convinced he’s sneaking in the back. Who will be right???!!
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Cameramen and photographers could be heard discussing how to get the “perfect shot” of Pistorius. @NICKolausBAUER managed to get a blurry shot of Pistorius entering the courtroom.
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BREAKING PHOTO: #OscarPistorius enters court in South Africa for his preliminary hearing – @NICKolausBAUER pic.twitter.com/xLuopsVPVq -
EWN journalist Barry Bateman also tweeted a picture from inside the courtroom.
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#OscarPistorius when the accused entered the dock. BB twitpic.com/cv6ll6
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The hearing, presided by acting Chief Magistrate Daniel Thulare, was concluded in less than 16 minutes. The State asked for a postponement to conduct further investigations.Thulare expressed his concerns regarding the postponement saying the media reporting was leading to a somewhat “scandalous” approach. His comments were made in response to the leaking of sensitive crime scene photographs to Sky News this week.
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NEW: Bloody photos, from Oscar Pistorius crime scene, broadcast by Sky News: (WARNING:GRAPHIC) bit.ly/179VUuL pic.twitter.com/Mj3lucegVB -
Members of the international media included correspondents from CBS, ABC, BBC, CNN, The Associated Press and European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
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Wits Vuvuzela tried to speak to some of these correspondents to find out how long they had waited for the hearing. Many seemed reluctant and agitated.Victoria Phenethi, a crew member from BBC, said they arrived yesterday to find parking and set up their equipment.
“We then went to our hotel here in Pretoria and arrived back this morning at 6am so we could do our first live crossing at 7,” Pheneti said.As BBC journalist Andrew Harding recorded a broadcast he compared Pistorius’ emotional state in February to his presence in court today: ”He looked like a man determined and unwilling to betray a single emotion.” -
Pistorius swigs from water bottle then leaves courtroom. his face a mask of concentration and neutrality throughout
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The matter was postponed to August 19, what was supposed to be Reeva Steenkamp’s 30th birthday. Twitter reacted to the uncomfortable coincidence.
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#OscarPistorius will appear in court again on 19 August which would have been #ReevaSteenkamp‘s birthday. Odd twist of fate.
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#oscarpistorius case postponed to August 19th which is Reeva Steenkamp’s birthday. The irony is cruel.
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Oscar’s next appearance is on the 19th of August. Reeva’s birthday… Weird coincidence? Not cool, my opinion.
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Surely they will change the date now that they know it’s Reeva’s birthday? God, her poor, poor parents.
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Shocking coincidence “@mamakastu: Did the magistrate realise he postponed the #OscarPistorius case to Reeva’s birthday?! #SABCNews“
