SA Court warns media over use of witnesses' photos in Pistorius murder trial

The presiding judge of the murder trial of Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has reportedly issued an order that no photographs of witnesses who do not wish to be shown in the trial can be used by the media.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux was cross-examining witness Michelle Burger when prosecutor Gerrie Nel stopped him and said he had just discovered that a still photo of Burger's face was being shown on broadcast television.

According to News24, Judge Thokozile Masipa said that the use of a still photo of Burger's face by various media houses was 'very disturbing' and she warned the media that if it does not behave, it would not be 'treated wit soft gloves'.

As the prosecution was raising its objection, the report mentioned that news channel eNCA was showing a still photo of a smiling Burger, although a few minutes later, eNCA tweeted that they had used a still picture from the university website, which was also carried in daily newspapers.