Media Guidelines – Oscar Pistorius bail application

4 June 2013, Pretoria Magistrates Court guidelines for the media

Registration and Accreditation

• Media accreditation for the Oscar Pistorius Case on 4 June 2013 is now closed.
• Only those who have submitted their names prior to the closing date will be given accreditation identification at the venue.
• Please be advised that ONLY accredited members of the media will be allowed access into Court C.
• Accreditation will take place as follows:
  • Pool Video Camera Personnel: on the 3 June 2013, from 10h00-11h30
  • All other accredited media: 4 June 2013, from 06h45-07h45
  • Venue:  4^th Floor Library Boardroom, Pretoria Magistrates Court.
• Accreditation will take place in groups of 10. Please assist us by adhering to all rules and guidelines.
• ID books and press cards are required.

Arrival and access

• Media is required to arrive an hour before the starting time for purposes of accreditation, setting up and seating.
• Access cards should be carried at all times to allow for access to the main court
• Please have your press cards on hand as they will be checked when entering the main court.

Programme

• The formal court proceedings will begin promptly at 09h00.

Photographs and live video inside the Court

Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair’s ruling (15 February 2013) on photographs and live feeds still stands, we will request the following:

• We will be utilizing a pool VIDEO feed system, we have requested SABC, ETV, SAPA, AFP, AP and REUTERS to distribute video recorded inside the courtroom in line with the ruling. (Contact details at the end of this advisory)
• These will be the only video cameras permitted inside Court C.
• Photographers will be allowed to take pictures at the beginning of the proceedings prior to the Magistrate presiding over the court.
• Thereafter we request that the Photographers promptly exit the Court C.
• No photographs will be taken during proceedings, while the Magistrate is still seated.

Allocation of seats for the media

• Media will be allocated seats in the main court, as well as in the overflow area where there will be closed circuit TV broadcasting the proceedings.
• Seats will be clearly marked, and ushers will guide the media to the designated seating
• Please note that in this overflow area the video and photography ruling will still apply. No photographs to be taken, or live feed audio or video to be taken.

Magistrate Nair’s Ruling, 15 February 2013

On 15 February 2013 the presiding officer in the Pistorius case entertained an application in terms of the above-mentioned provision and made the following ruling:

“… [T]here will be no live recording of these proceedings by television or in any other format. I will permit photographs and recording when the Court is not in session, provided the rights of the accused are not in any way infringed. The application with regard to the televising or the live recording or even related broadcasting of the arguments and the judgment, such application is dismissed and is not successful. I will permit the audio broadcast of the argument and judgment in this matter.”

Pool video feed contacts