All the news from the Oscar Pistorius murder trial on Day 2 in one place…..
[full]Tweet: TMG Oscar @OscarsTrial #OscarPistorius Roux invites state to test – we’ll put the toilet door back, you scream and I promise you won’t hear screams from 177m away
Tweet: TMG Oscar @OscarsTrial #OscarPistorius Roux says Reeva was in a toilet with a locked door and a closed window so how could Burger hear her scream
OSCAR JUDGE WARNS MEDIA – Sapa
The media was given a stern warning after a picture was used of a witness being cross-examined during Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial, in violation of a court order.
“I am warning the media, if you do not behave, you will not be treated with soft gloves,” said Judge Thokozile Masipa in the High Court in Pretoria.
She ordered that no photographers of witnesses may be used — no matter the source of the picture — if the witness had asked that photos not be used.
Masipa said an investigation would take place.
“This might just be the tip of the iceberg.”
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel interrupted proceedings shortly after Michelle Burger started testifying on Tuesday morning.
Nel said he had been told that Burger’s face was being shown on television, despite her request that this should not happen.
Her image, a still photograph, appeared on eNews Channel Africa.
But eNCA head of news Patrick Conroy said he believed the channel had not done anything wrong.
“We were not in violation of the court order, I must stress that,” Conroy said on eNCA.
The broadcaster earlier tweeted: “NOTE: ‘We used a still picture from the University website – also carried in daily newspapers.”
The photograph has been taken down.
Afrikaans daily Beeld also used a picture of Burger in the newspaper on Tuesday.
Proceedings were stopped when the picture was shown on eNCA.
Masipa ordered the media to stop any photographs of any sorts of a witness.
She said it did not matter where it was sourced from if a witness had asked not to have their photograph published.
She ordered an investigation into the extent of the non-compliance.
This was after Nel said there was a photograph of Burger, Pistorius’s neighbour, with audio of her cross-examination running.
He said the news channel eNCA asked the department of justice fo permission and were told no, but they went ahead and did so.
It was made clear that this was a violation of the ruling that no photograph or video of the witness should be shown.
There would be an investigation to establish what further steps should be taken regarding the violation, Nel said.
Last week Judge Dunstan Mlambo gave the media permission to broadcast the trial with strict conditions. These included not photographing or publishing images of witnesses if they asked for this in advance.
REEVA’S SCREAMS QUESTIONED – Sapa
The question of whether Reeva Steenkamp screamed before she was shot dead was probed on day two of Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial in the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Barry Roux, for Pistorius, asked witness Michelle Burger whether she had heard, at the paralympic athlete’s bail application, his version that Steenkamp did not scream.
“I heard a woman scream,” Burger answered.
Roux tried to have her explain the discrepancy between her version and Pistorius’s.
“Maybe Mr Pistorius can explain why,” she answered.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel interrupted proceedings to tell the court that he had been informed that Burger’s face was being shown on television, despite her request that this not happen.
Court was adjourned for Judge Thokozile Masipa to look into the matter.
The State will try to prove that Pistorius committed premeditated murder when he shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp through a bathroom door in his Pretoria home on February 14 last year.
In addition he is charged with premeditated murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
His lawyers will argue that he mistook her for an intruder when he shot through the bathroom door.
Tweet: @GraemeHosken Judge orders investigation into showing witness’s face bans photos of other witnesses no matter where sourced from
ENCA TWEETS ABOUT PICTURE – Sapa
An ENCA tweet on Tuesday says the broadcaster used a still picture during their televised broadcast of paralympian Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial on Tuesday.
“NOTE: ‘We used a still picture from the University website – also carried in daily newspapers,’ said ENCA’s head of news Patrick Conroy on Twitter.
The trial was adjourned after the High Court in Pretoria was informed that the face of witness Michelle Burger was being televised.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel interrupted proceedings to say that he had been told that Burger’s face was being shown on television, despite her request that this should not happen.
Her image, a still photograph, appeared on eNews Channel Africa.
Judge Thokozile Masipa adjourned the proceedings to investigate the matter.
Tweet: TMG Oscar @OscarsTrial #OscarPistorius Roux continues with his cross examination of Burger
WITNESS SHOWN ON TV – Sapa
The Oscar Pistorius murder trial was adjourned on Tuesday after the High Court in Pretoria was informed that the face of the witness was being televised.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel interrupted proceedings to say that he had been told that Michelle Burger’s face was being shown on television, despite her request that this should not happen.
Her image, a still photograph, appeared on eNews Channel Africa.
Judge Thokozile Masipa adjourned the proceedings to investigate the matter.
Tweet: @GraemeHosken Court adjourned as broadcasters flout court ruling of not showing of current witnesses face (ENCA showed a still image of the witness ed)
DAY TWO BEGINS – Sapa
The second day of the trial of murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius began around 9.30am in the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June, was not yet in court when proceedings began.
The interpreter from Monday was not in court on Tuesday.
Cross-examination of witness Michelle Burger, who previously testified that she heard a woman’s “blood-curdling” screams coming from his home on the night of the shooting, continued.
Pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend Steenkamp on February 14 last year.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, and contraventions under the Firearms Control Act, including possession of ammunition without a licence. He claims he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar.
PISTORIUS TAKES CALL AND CHATS TO ARTIST – Sapa
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius briefly took a phone call and then spoke to a sketch artist at the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday ahead of his murder trial.
The two casually shook hands before a brief interaction. Pistorius looked at ease on Tuesday, often looking back at the public gallery.
There was no sign of Reeva Steenkamp’s mother June who was there on day one of the trial.
Pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14 last year. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, and contraventions under the Firearms Control Act, including possession of ammunition without a licence. He claims he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar.
The first witness, Michelle Burger, took the stand on Monday and testified that she heard a woman’s “blood-curdling” screams coming from his home on the night of the shooting. Cross-examination of Burger was due to continue on Tuesday at 9.30am.
PISTORIUS FAMILY ARRIVE IN COURT – Sapa
The Pistorius family arrived and took their seats in the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday ahead of paralympian Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial.
His uncle Arnold, brother Carl, and sister Aimee were seen chatting and exchanging words with Pistorius.
There was still no sign of the Steenkamp family by 9.20am.
Photographers scrambled for a photo of the double-amputee as he entered, carrying a blue umbrella and a laptop bag. He was wearing a black suit and dark tie.
Inside courtroom GD, Pistorius was seen chatting to his lawyer Kenny Oldwadge and a woman on his legal team.
Pistorius’s lawyer Barry Roux entered the court through the judge’s entrance.
Pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14 last year. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, and contraventions under the Firearms Control Act, including possession of ammunition without a licence. He claims he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar.
The first witness, Michelle Burger, took the stand on Monday and testified that she heard a woman’s “blood-curdling” screams coming from his home on the night of the shooting. Cross-examination of Burger was due to continue on Tuesday at 9.30am.
PISTORIUS ARRIVES IN COURT – Sapa
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius entered the High Court in Pretoria shortly after 9am on Tuesday for the second day of his highly-publicised murder trial.
He was carrying a blue umbrella and a laptop bag, and wore a black suit and dark tie.
Pistorius entered the dock and began speaking to a police officer.
He then turned around and briefly spoke to his family who sat in the gallery behind him.
Pistorius’s lawyer Brian Webber was also seen in court.
Pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14 last year. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, and contraventions under the Firearms Control Act, including possession of ammunition without a licence. He claims he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar.
The first witness, Michelle Burger, took the stand on Monday and testified that she heard a woman’s “blood-curdling” screams coming from his house on the night of the shooting. Cross-examination of Burger was due to continue on Tuesday at 9.30am.
The proceedings in the wood-panelled courtroom were broadcast live on television and radio, with the initial indictment listing 107 witnesses to testify for the State.
Judge Thokozile Masipa presided and swore in assessors Janet Henzen-Du-Toit and Themba Mazibuko.[/full]