No preferential treatment for Oscar – cop
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was treated like everyone else and not given preferential treatment at the High Court in Pretoria, police said on Friday.
Double amputee Paralympian Oscar Pistorius is seen with his legal team during a break in court proceedings on the second day of his murder trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, 4 March 2014. Pistorius is accused of the murder of Reeva Steenkamp on Feb 14 2013. Picture: Antoine de Ras – Pool
“He is not given preferential treatment as people seem to suggest,” Warrant Officer Hein Taljaard told reporters outside the court.
He said he co-ordinates Pistorius’s security at the court.
Taljaard said there had been reports that Pistorius was getting special treatment from the court security, and that it was not true.
“I have been stationed at this court for the past 11 years, and handled other high profile cases such as the Modimolle monster,” he said.
“We are professionals and have to make sure nothing happens to Mr Pistorius, because we will look bad if something goes wrong.”
His team co-ordinated the paralympian’s security together with Pistorius’ cousins.
“We remain professional and make sure he is safely escorted into and out of the court.”
Pistorius had been swarmed by media and the public outside the court who waited to take photographs of him every time he went into and out of court building.
The “Blade Runner” has pleaded not guilty for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14 last year. Pistorius claims he mistook her for a burglar.
– Sapa
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