Monday, July 7, 2014

Expert says Pistorius` shooting reenactment footage might result in mistrial - Zee News


Expert says Pistorius` shooting reenactment footage might result in mistrial


Johannesburg: An associate law professor has said that Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius` murder trial could end if there is a breach of confidentiality in regard to the video showing the reenactment of the night he shot his girlfriend.

A footage that was broadcast on Sunday displayed Pistorius at his most vulnerable as he is walking on his stumps and appearing to aim a pistol.


Pistorius` lawyers said that the video, which emerged the week his trial resumed for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp, was commissioned by his defence team and obtained illegally.


According to Sport24, Stephen Tuson, an associate law professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, said that the origin of the footage is important.


Tuson said that if the defence produced the video as part of their investigation and preparation for the trial, it is strictly privileged, confidential and cannot be used.


Tuson added that whatever one tells his attorney is strictly confidential and privileged and if there`s a breach of that, there can be a mistrial.


Tuson said that if there is a failure of justice, then that is the end of the trial.


In the footage that was aired by Australia`s Channel 7 the double-amputee is seen crossing a room on his bare stumps, wearing a tank top and tight black shorts, his hand clenched in the air as if ready to fire a gun.


Pistorius, known as the "Blade Runner" for his prosthetic limbs, has been charged with murdering Steenkamp after a row early on the morning of Valentine`s Day last year.


The sprinter claims that he mistakenly shot the 29-year-old model and law graduate through a locked door, believing that she was an intruder in his Pretoria home.


ANI





First Published: Monday, July 07, 2014, 12:38









Source: Top Stories - Google News - http://ift.tt/1xEPM89

0 comments:

Post a Comment