The judge presiding over Oscar Pistorius's trial for murder pilloried news media on Tuesday for showing a photograph of a key state witness as audio of her testimony was broadcast.
"I must say this is very disturbing, I am warning the media, if you do not behave, you will not be treated with soft gloves," judge Thokozile Masipa said.
South African television channel eNCA showed an image of the university lecturer as she was cross-examined by Pistorius's defence lawyer.
Another judge last month ruled that most of Oscar Pistorius's trial could be broadcast, as long as guidelines were followed.
Judge Dunstan Mlambo ruled that only audio of the Paralympian's own testimony would be broadcast, laying down similar rules for witnesses who asked to remain out of the public eye.
Pistorius's legal team had objected to the trial being broadcast at all.
ENCA head of news Patrick Conroy went on the channel to defend the decision to show the picture.
"We are not in violation of the court order. We did seek senior council and they agree - we are not in violation," Conroy said.
"We did not contravene the court law. We did not broadcast footage of Michelle Burger inside the court...," he added.
"We used a still picture from the University website - also carried in daily newspapers."
Masipa ordered that no photographs must be used if the witness had requested privacy.
The trial has garnered global coverage, with hundreds of reporters descending on the North Gauteng High Court where the trial is taking place.
A 24-hour channel dedicated to his trial starts on South African network television on Sunday.
The judge presiding over Oscar Pistorius’s trial for murder pilloried news media on Tuesday for showing a photograph of a key state witness as audio of her testimony was broadcast.
“I must say this is very disturbing, I am warning the media, if you do not behave, you will not be treated with soft gloves,” judge Thokozile Masipa said.
South African television channel eNCA showed an image of the university lecturer as she was cross-examined by Pistorius’s defence lawyer.
Another judge last month ruled that most of Oscar Pistorius’s trial could be broadcast, as long as guidelines were followed.
Judge Dunstan Mlambo ruled that only audio of the Paralympian’s own testimony would be broadcast, laying down similar rules for witnesses who asked to remain out of the public eye.
Pistorius’s legal team had objected to the trial being broadcast at all.
ENCA head of news Patrick Conroy went on the channel to defend the decision to show the picture.
“We are not in violation of the court order. We did seek senior council and they agree – we are not in violation,” Conroy said.
“We did not contravene the court law. We did not broadcast footage of Michelle Burger inside the court…,” he added.
“We used a still picture from the University website – also carried in daily newspapers.”
Masipa ordered that no photographs must be used if the witness had requested privacy.
The trial has garnered global coverage, with hundreds of reporters descending on the North Gauteng High Court where the trial is taking place.
A 24-hour channel dedicated to his trial starts on South African network television on Sunday.
