In writing this article, I am breaking a promise to myself not to wade into the trial of Oscar Pistorius. It is not the case itself that I wish to address, moreover the saddening way in which the trial has ceased to become about the justice system in South Africa, and has devolved into a soap opera for our entertainment.
In the dock | Paralympian Oscar Pistorius stands in court facing the charge of premeditated murder in Pretoria, South Africa. (Image | The People)
This was demonstrated when the presiding magistrate, Desmond Nair, granted Pistorius bail. However, before doing so, he explained at length his reasons behind his decision, which took almost two hours.
A flurry of tweets followed, mocking Nair for how long he was taking to reveal whether or not Pistorius would be granted bail. The subtext of these tweets was simple: “We’re bored. Skip to the end. Are you going to grant bail or not?”
