Pistorius case: Partial Televising Of Trial Allowed

A judge has ruled that the trial of multiple Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius can be partly televised.

Picture Courtsey:BBC

The South African is accused of premeditated murder after shooting girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead at his Pretoria home on February 14 last year.

Justice Dunstan Mlambo said audio of the entire trial - which begins on Monday - can be broadcast live.

Sections of the trial, including opening and closing arguments and the evidence of experts and police witnesses, can be televised live.

But the testimony of Pistorius and his witnesses will be barred from being broadcast, judge Mlambo said.

Defence lawyers for Pistorius had argued against any of the trial being filmed.

There is expected to be widespread international interest in the trial when it gets underway in Pretoria.

Pistorius, 27, claims he mistook Steenkamp – who he had been dating for several months - for an intruder and shot her through a toilet door.

Prosecutors allege the death was premeditated after an argument between the couple.

Steenkamp, a 29-year-old South African model, was shot three times through the toilet door in the early hours of Valentine's Day.

Pistorius won double Olympic gold at the London 2012 Paralympics in the 400 metres T44 and the 4x100m relay T42-T46.

The double amputee also won three golds in Beijing 2008 and one gold in Athens 2004.

He won a total of eight Paralympic medals.