Judge Thokozile Masipa

Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to five years in prison for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.

Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to five years in prison for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.

Instead of relying on a jury of peers, the South African justice system makes provision for assessors. They are highly skilled, legally trained people selected by the judge, if he or she feels the need. In the Oscar Pistorius trial, there are two assessors, who may overrule the judge on a verdict when it comes to the facts of the case.

The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius is setting a precedent when it comes to press coverage of a criminal trial: never before has there been such interest in a court matter in South Africa. That reporters are allowed to live tweet from court, that cameras are allowed to film in the court building are big steps towards a more transparent, freer media.

At the start of the Oscar Pistorius trial, celebrity US lawyer Alan Dershowitz suggested on CNN that Pistorius would not get justice as South Africa was a "failed state", and the trial "racial". Simon Barber, Brand South Africa's country manager for the US, wrote this open letter to Dershowitz in response.

The trial of Oscar Pistorius is precedent-setting, not least for the amount of international attention it is getting. On a real and practical level, it offers the space for the media and the justice system to redefine the margins of what is, and what is not permissible.