In a case that has drawn interest from around the world, South African Paralympic and Olympic track star Oscar Pistorius, accused of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, and appeared in court on Tuesday for a procedural hearing, making his first appearance since he was granted bail in February.
Following the brief hearing, the case was postponed until August 19 allow police to complete their investigation into the Valentine's Day shooting death of Steenkamp., the Associated Press notes.
Pistorius, 26, says he mistook his girlfriend of three months for an intruder that fateful night and claims he did not intend to shoot her four times through a locked bathroom door. Meanwhile, the prosecution argues it was a premeditated murder.
Oscar Pistorius appeared in the packed courtroom for less than 15 minutes with a sullen expression on his face, a stark contrast from the sobbing image he had back in February during his first court appearance. His only words were "Yes, your honor" throughout the hearing.
Magistrate Daniel Thulare also took the opportunity to criticize the media, saying that Pistorius should not face a "trial by media", according to the Telegraph.
"Just like any other literate South African I also read newspapers," he said. "It would appear there is somewhat a trial by the media houses of Mr Pistorius.
"It would appear some of the activities may amount, if not to scandalizing the court system in the republic, then to contempt of court."
Meanwhile, Pistorius' family is "shaken by the graphic images" released by Sky News, a British media news outlet, that shows the bloody crime scene where the Olympian fatally shot his model girlfriend earlier this year.
"We were shaken by the graphic images, leaked into the public domain this week, of the accident scene at Oscar's house," the family said in a statement Sunday.
