In a session that took exactly 17 minutes, the murder case against Olympian and Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was on Tuesday postponed until August 19, which is coincidentally Reeva Steenkamp's birthday.
Details of the ongoing investigation were not disclosed, but the Blade Runner's defence team had previously agreed to the postponement.
"Mister Pistorius, the matter against you is being postponed for further investigation," magistrate Daniel Thulare told the accused.
Pistorius remains on bail under the same conditions, Thulare told him.
Much of the court time was taken up by Thulare's concerns about the management of the case, apparently triggered by the publication of what purports to be pictures of the bathroom where Steenkamp was shot.
"There seems to be somewhat of a trial by the media," said Thulare, as he complained about the amount of interest in the case, and the influence that could have on proceedings.
Witness list
Police are expected to conclude their investigation into Pistorius's shooting of Steenkamp by that date, but the matter will only move forward after crucial information, including a witness list, had been presented to Pistorius.
That puts the expected start date of the actual trial well into 2014.
Pistorius appeared more composed than during his previous stints in the dock, when he broke down several times.
Friends and family lined several benches in room C of the Pretoria Magistrate's Court.
Well over a hundred journalists and two dozen television crews from outlets all over the world jockeyed for position in the court and outside, eager for fresh pictures of the runner.
Photos by: Catalina Farias and Skyler Reid