witness

The hunted has become the hunter off the coast of Cape Town, where shark expert Chris Fallows has witnessed Cape fur seals catch and partially eat small blue sharks. The remarkable discovery has been published in the latest edition of the African Journal of Marine Science.

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 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.