/ 19 February 2014

Broadcast Pistorius trial, say media

Broadcast Pistorius Trial, Say Media

Media houses will ask the high court in Pretoria on Wednesday for permission to broadcast Oscar Pistorius's trial for Reeva Steenkamp's murder.

The application was being brought by news channel eNCA.

The channel would be joined in the application by MultiChoice and Eyewitness News (EWN).

A 24-hour TV channel dedicated to the upcoming trial will reportedly be launched on DSTV a day before the star athlete goes on trial.

MultiChoice and EWN said it was proposing permission to use unmanned, remote controlled high definition cameras, which would feed to all broadcasters, if the application was successful.

Opposing the application
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Tuesday said it would not oppose the application.

However, NPA spokesperson Nathi Mncube said it did have a number of conditions. He would not say what they were.

Pistorius is accused of killing his girlfriend, model Steenkamp, in February last year. His trial is expected to be heard in the high court in Pretoria from March 3 to 20.

It was not immediately clear if Pistorius's legal team would oppose the application. – Sapa