Witnesses can object to audio-visual recording of testimony in Pistorius' trial, rules court

The witnesses, who are due to testify in the murder trial of Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, will reportedly need to decide within 24 hours whether or not they object to audio-visual recording of their evidence.

South African media houses were permitted for full audio and partial TV broadcasts of the trial, with the ruling made on an application brought by news channel eNCA, joined by media houses MultiChoice and Eyewitness News (Primedia).

According to Sport24, High Court judge Dunstan Mlambo ruled that objections by witnesses to the audio-visual recording of their evidence shall be in writing and will be delivered to the office of the deputy judge president at least 24 hours before the testimony of the said witness to avoid delaying the trial.

Mlambo further said the witness' objections would be dealt with in court chambers by the judge president, but if unsolved, the presiding judge would make a final ruling after hearing the parties.

Regarding TV coverage, media houses could only broadcast opening arguments, any interlocutory applications during the trial, the evidence of all experts called to give evidence for the State, but excluding evidence of Pistorius and his witnesses, the report added.