‘Weeping Oscar’ Photo Backlash


By Ntokozo Sindane    19-Feb-2013 12:17 UTC+02:00
Oscar Pistorius shown reacting to the prosecutor’s charge of premeditated murder. This picture was taken against the magistrate’s ruling of no recordings while the court is in session. Image – www.telegraph.co.uk

Oscar Pistorius shown reacting to the prosecutor’s charge of premeditated murder. This picture was taken against the magistrate’s ruling of no recordings while the court is in session. Image – www.telegraph.co.uk

The legal team of Oscar Pistorius has a lot on their plate as they prepare for the paralympian’s next court appearance next week. Under the watchful eye of the international media the lawyers, including Kenneth Oldwage, will put a mistaken identity defence to the court. The team is also seriously considering taking legal action against the newspapers that published pictures of a weeping Oscar Pistorius in court.

Magistrate Desmond Nair had ruled that no recordings would be permitted while the court is in session. Of these recordings, the defence is particularly peeved about a picture showing a weeping Oscar Pistorius in a dark suit with his head in his hands. This image has been dubbed by some papers as the ‘Crying Oscar’. The picture is in direct contravention of the magistrate’s instruction. It is expected that this disregard for the legal process will be addressed when the bail hearing continues on Tuesday.

Oscar Pistorius is the first double amputee to participate at the Olympics. He is an international symbol for perseverance and determination. It comes as no surprise that since the story broke, all eyes have been on the country and countless international media personnel have descended on South Africa for first-hand accounts as the story unfolds. The magistrate had granted the media permission to obtain footage only when the court was adjourned with the magistrate no longer seated.

Though it is not presently clear if Oscar’s defence team will take action against the offending newspapers on Tuesday, they have made the intention to take legal action very apparent. Oscar Pistorius will appear in the Pretoria Magistrates Court this Tuesday.

 


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