Saturday, March 1, 2014

The case for televised trials - By Clive Anderson

Oscar Pistorius stands at the dock before the start of proceedings at a Pretoria magistrates court February 22, 2013. "Blade Runner" Pistorius, a double amputee who became one of the biggest names in world athletics, was applying for bail after being charged in court with shooting dead his girlfriend, 30-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp, in his Pretoria house. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: CRIME LAW SPORT ATHLETICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR3E3ZO
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/4445419e-9ee5-11e3-a48e-00144feab7de.html#axzz2uefuiZny

With or without TV pictures, the trial will serve up an intoxicating cocktail of celebrity and tragedy, guns and glamour in a courtroom drama more or less guaranteed to outdo anything in the world of fiction. With or without TV pictures, millions of people will be anxious to fathom how a world-renowned athlete came to kill his beautiful model girlfriend in their own home, in the middle of the night, whether by accident or design.