The murder trial of Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius will reportedly be partially broadcast live on television by three remote-controlled cameras, although his testimony will be excluded from the broadcast proceedings.
The defence lawyers of Pistorius, who is charged with murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year, had opposed any part of the trial being broadcast, saying it would harm his chances of receiving a fair trial.
However, Telegraph.com.au reports that a High Court judge granted permission to South African media houses to install the cameras in 'unobtrusive' locations to show much of Pistorius' blockbuster trial, which could now be watched by millions in South Africa and around the world.
Stating that the court proceedings are public, judge Dunstan Mlambo ruled that opening arguments by the prosecution and the defence, along with the presiding judge's decision and sentencing could be shown live, adding that only the testimony of 'expert witnesses', and not that of Pistorius or his 'witnesses', can be shown.
Mlambo further said that restrictions could also be placed on other witness testimony if they object to their time in court being shown on TV, adding that no parts of confidential discussions between Pistorius and his lawyers can be broadcast in any way.
The judge also ruled that although two still cameras can be set up to take photographs inside the court, however, no camera, television or still, will be allowed to record an 'extreme' close up image of anyone in the court, adding that a live audio feed of the proceedings will be permitted through the trial.
The applications to broadcast the trial were brought by a South African television news station, a cable provider which will launch a 24-hour channel focusing on the Pistorius trial and a radio news network, the report added.