04-07-2014, 10:40 AM
What we will and won't see during the Defense Case
As Teacher noted, the February ruling prohibited defense witnesses (including Pistorius) from being televised during the trial (no such prohibition for the state/prosecution expert witnesses).
However, the rulings stated that for defense witnesses the court could consider showing some testimonies from behind the witness stand, obscuring faces or using a general wide shot of the court (HOTD: this is what they did today and what they did for non-expert prosecution witnesses). No parts of confidential discussions between Pistorius and his lawyers can be broadcast, nor can discussions between the prosecution, defense and judge, Mlambo said in the pre-trial television decision.
It's a little confusing and not consistently reported as to what "can or can't" be televised, but Judge Masipa has discretion and it looks like the cameras will keep rolling along with the audio during the defense case, the live stream will continue, and the television camera focus will simply not be on the witnesses' faces while they are on the stand. Judge Masipa has authority to stop the television cameras as well.
As Teacher noted, the February ruling prohibited defense witnesses (including Pistorius) from being televised during the trial (no such prohibition for the state/prosecution expert witnesses).
However, the rulings stated that for defense witnesses the court could consider showing some testimonies from behind the witness stand, obscuring faces or using a general wide shot of the court (HOTD: this is what they did today and what they did for non-expert prosecution witnesses). No parts of confidential discussions between Pistorius and his lawyers can be broadcast, nor can discussions between the prosecution, defense and judge, Mlambo said in the pre-trial television decision.
It's a little confusing and not consistently reported as to what "can or can't" be televised, but Judge Masipa has discretion and it looks like the cameras will keep rolling along with the audio during the defense case, the live stream will continue, and the television camera focus will simply not be on the witnesses' faces while they are on the stand. Judge Masipa has authority to stop the television cameras as well.