Media scrum ahead of Pistorius hearing
2013-02-19 09:10
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See all the latest pictures from Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court.
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Pretoria - Security officers shouted at local and
international media pushing to get into the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on
Tuesday ahead of paralympian Oscar Pistorius 's bail application.
He has been charged with the Valentine's Day shooting of his
girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp .
Pistorius was brought to court early from the Brooklyn
police cells where he had been in custody since his first appearance on Friday.
He was brought in through a different entrance to the one
used on Friday, mostly escaping the glare of international publicity.
Push
His family, including sister Aimee, who was looking composed
in the fray, and a cousin, were among the first to push through the throng at
the security scanners.
Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, was shot dead at
Pistorius's home in Silver Woods country estate in Pretoria last Thursday.
Her funeral takes place in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday. Her
body was flown down to the coastal town for a private family ceremony.
Steenkamp reportedly started dating Pistorius at the end of
last year, the two being photographed at local red carpet events.
A campaign on Facebook was doing the rounds with pictures of
Steenkamp circulating, urging people to "like" the pictures in her
memory.
At the Pretoria Magistrate's Court, people with court business
not associated with double amputee medal winner Pistorius, were allowed through
first, and the media, desperate for one of the 25 places set aside for them,
sprinted to the court room once through the security check.
Other people expected in the court are representatives of
the Commission for Gender Equality who said on Monday they would be monitoring
the case.
During his emotional first court appearance, Pistorius heard
that the State intended arguing a case of pre-meditated murder against him.
On Friday, the court heard that the bail proceedings would
be taken up with argument on whether the crime he is charged with falls under
sections five or six of the Criminal Procedure Act.
If it is the latter, his lawyer Barry Roux has to show
exceptional circumstances for him to be released on bail.
- Visit
News24's Oscar Pistorius Special Report.
Send us your eyewitness accounts and photos .
- SAPA
