There were smiles, jokes, hugs, and laughter in court GD of the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday morning, minutes ahead of sentencing for Oscar Pistorius.
“It’s like a carnival atmosphere, like the last day of school,” commented one international journalist about the commotion in the public gallery.
Reeva Steenkamp’s parents Barry and June, former soccer player Marc Batchelor, Pistorius’s ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor and her mother were among those in court, sitting in the first two rows.
Three paramedics were also in court.
Pistorius stood in the dock talking to one of his lawyers, Brian Webber, and his therapist Lore Hartzenberg.
As the minutes wore on, the talking in the court room became less loud and people sat down. Barry Roux, for Pistorius, was sitting behind his lecturn, talking to Rohan Kruger, one of his junior counsel.
Prosecutor Gerry Nel was not in court yet.
Source : Sapa /th/aa/tk