The Oscar Pistorius Trial heads to a close

Oscar Pistorius during his on going murder trial. Picture: POOL/REUTERS

OSCAR Pistorius who is facing murder charges after killing his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day last year. His trial, which is being televised, has attracted millions of viewers. DSTV now have a dedicated channel, The Oscar Pistorius Trial: A Carte Blanche Channel (DStv Channel 199).

The channel which had been on a hiatus after Judge Thokozile Masipa gave the defense and prosecution legal teams a month-long recess to draw up their closing arguments will resume on August 7. The channel will broadcast for two days only; after which it will pop down again until judgment.

It will be a final showdown between two of South Africa’s top legal minds: defence lawyer Barry Roux, and senior state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, nicknamed “Bulldog” because of his brutal style of questioning. The hearing is set down for two days before Judge Thokozile Masipa, who is then expected to adjourn the case for a couple of weeks before delivering her verdict. South Africa does not have trial by jury.

“The Oscar Pistorius criminal trial is a huge talking point across the globe and The Oscar Pistorius Trial: A Carte Blanche Channel has seen massive engagement on social media around the world. The channel will continue to bring viewers thought-provoking documentaries, in-depth analysis of the trial and informed commentary from key personalities and experts in the legal, journalistic and particularly the social media fields,” says George Mazarakis, Channel Head.