South Africa appoints judge for Pistorius trial

South Africa’s Department of Justice on Monday in Cape Town confirmed that 66-year-old judge, Thokozile Masipa, would preside at the trial of South African paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius.

The athlete, popularly called “the`blade-runner’’, was accused of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, with the trial scheduled to begin in Pretoria on March 3.

PANA reports that Pistorius was released on bail after a tense hearing last February, with some conditions, including that he must not return to the home where his girlfriend was killed.

It said Pistorius has also been charged with contravening the Firearms Control Act, relating to two incidents when he allegedly discharged firearms in public.

It said there was a report over the weekend, that Pistorius lawyers are in talks with Steenkamp’s parents about an out-of-court settlement that could cost them over 200,000 dollars.(PANA/NAN)