CHRONOLOGY OF COVERAGE

1.

APR. 20, 2014

News analysis; numbers of lawyers from both South Africa and United States say they have never seen
anything like emotional display put on by Oscar Pistorius in his murder trial; Pistorius's histrionics have
raised question of whether he is traumatized person or a good actor.
2.

APR. 19, 2014

Many South African lawyers say murder trial of sprinter Oscar Pistorius has served to reinforce impressions
that country's justice system treats rich and famous much better than poor and vulnerable; what has become
a season of high-profile cases has turned an unusually unforgiving spotlight on South Africa's justice system.
3.

APR. 18, 2014

Murder trial of South African track star Oscar Pistorius adjourns amid a report that private forensic
pathologist Reggie Perumal, crucial defense witness, will not take the stand when it resumes in May.
4.

APR. 17, 2014

Judge in trial of Oscar Pistorius, double-amputee track star accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva
Steenkamp, says proceedings will be postponed after hearings ended until May 5, two days before South
Africas national election.
5.

APR. 16, 2014

Oscar Pistorius, leaving witness stand, reads Valentine's card that he received from his girlfriend Reeva
Steenkamp minutes before he shot her; tearful moment on the stand follows days of grueling crossexamination in which prosecutors have accused the athlete of lying and changing his testimony.
6.

APR. 15, 2014

Prosecutor in murder trial of South African track star Oscar Pistorius has him relive the final moments of his
girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp's life in the fourth day of relentless cross-examination.
7.

APR. 14, 2014

"Gerrie Nel, South African prosecutor nicknamed 'Pit Bull' for his aggressive cross-examination tactics, has
come into spotlight during murder trial of Oscar Pistorius;" colleagues say that Nel's relentless and
sometimes brutal method is not unusual in South Africa, but he has nonetheless received warnings for his
treatment of Pistorius, who is beginning his second week of testimony.
8.

APR. 12, 2014

South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius appears flustered, agitated and tired at his murder trial on the
third day of cross-examination by prosecutor Gerrie Nell, who accuses him of shooting his girlfriend Reeva
Steenkamp in the head during an argument.
9.

APR. 11, 2014

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius, accused of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, faces new questions
from state prosecutor Gerrie Nel about his relationship with her and his experiences firing guns; Pistorious,
who claims he shot Steenkamp by mistake, denies charge of premeditated murder.
10.

APR. 10, 2014

"Gerrie Nel, prosecutor in murder trial of Oscar Pistorius, is relentless in cross-examining Pistorius about
fatal shooting of Reeva Steenkamp;" Nel, who has a reputation for combativeness and a string of high-profile
victories under his belt, all but orders Pistorius to look at gruesome photograph of the victim, drawing gasps
from the courtroom.
11.

APR. 9, 2014

"South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius removes his prosthetic legs and demonstrates at his
murder trial how vulnerable and exposed he can be without them;" demonstration goes toward bolstering
defense's case that Pistorius shot his gun in a panic, accidentally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp,
because he believed someone had broken into his house.

12.

APR. 8, 2014

South African paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius takes the stand in his trial for the murder of his girlfriend
Reeva Steenkamp, maintaining that he shot her because of a tragic mistake; Pistorius begins with an apology
to Steenkamp's family.
13.

APR. 3, 2014

Oscar Pistorius is expected to take the stand when his murder trial resumes after weeklong recess; his
account of what happened the night he fatally shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp may be the only thing that
can save him from a conviction.
14.

MAR. 29, 2014

Murder trial of South African double-amputee track star Oscar Pistorius has been adjourned after one of the
two judicial assessors becomes ill; trial is to resume April 7.
15.

MAR. 26, 2014

Prosecution rests its case in murder trial of South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, after three
weeks of testimony that sought to portray him as angry and jealous man who killed his girlfriend Reeva
Steenkamp; defense has asked for several days to prepare itself, and will begin its own case within days,
possibly with Pistorius taking the stand.
16.

MAR. 25, 2014

Text messages reveal at murder trial of South African double-amputee athlete Oscar Pistorius that he and his
girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp argued fiercely in the weeks before he killed her.
17.

MAR. 21, 2014

Oscar Pistorius, double amputee track star charged with murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, plans to
sell house where he shot her in order to raise money for legal fees.
18.

MAR. 16, 2014

Serge Schmemann Quick History column reflects on the events of the week, including the situation in
Ukraine, missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, murder trial of Oscar Pistorious and the release of Louisiana
inmate Glenn Ford after 30 years on death row.
19.

MAR. 11, 2014

News coverage of testimony in murder trial of South African double amputee track star Oscar Pistorious is
restricted by sweeping ban on live broadcasting or reporting on Twitter due to graphic nature of evidence;
Pistorious vomits repeatedly as a pathologist describes injuries sustained by victim Reeva Steenkamp.
20.

MAR. 8, 2014

Security guard testifies in widely-publicized murder trial of South African track star Oscar Pistorious that
Pistorious assured him that 'everything was fine' only minutes after the shots that killed Reeva Steenkamp on
Feb 14, 2013; prosecutors in first week of trial have attempted to portray dark side of Pistorious's personality
related to guns.
21.

MAR. 4, 2014

Trial of South African double-amputee track star Oscar Pistorius on murder charges begins; witness
describes hearing screams shortly before Pistorius's girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was shot and killed;
Pistorius maintains his innocence, saying he believed an armed intruder was in his locked bathroom rather
than Steenkamp.
22.

FEB. 26, 2014

South African judge rules that substantial parts of trial of Oscar Pistorius, double-amputee track star accused
of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, may be televised and photographed but that testimony by
Pistorius and defense cannot be shown on television; also specifies that all hearings can be broadcast on
radio.
23.

AUG. 20, 2013

Oscar Pistorious, double amputee international track star, is indicted in a South African court on a charge of
premeditated murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

24.

AUG. 17, 2013

South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius will face new charges when he appears in court for trial hearing
on charges that he murdered girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp; new charges involve accusations that he
discharged a weapon in a restaurant in January 2013 and also fired a gun from a car while driving home from
a vacation, both incidents occurring before Steenkamp was killed in February.
25.

JUN. 5, 2013

Oscar Pistorius, South African amputee track star accused of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, returns
to court for procedural hearing, first appearance since he was granted bail in February.
26.

MAY. 21, 2013

Oscar Pistorius, South African Paralympic champion who is charged with murdering his girlfriend, will not
compete in the 2013 world championships.
27.

MAR. 29, 2013

Judge eases unusually tight bail restrictions on Oscar Pistorius, double amputee Olympic runner accused of
murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp; judge says he is allowed to use his passport to travel outside
South Africa and no longer needs to report to probation officer.
28.

MAR. 8, 2013

Hilton Botha, former lead detective in investigation into the death of Reeva Steenkamp, girlfriend of Olympic
athlete Oscar Pistorius, resigns amid criticism that he bungled investigation.
29.

MAR. 6, 2013

"Stunned South Africans are debating whether Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot by the sprinter Oscar
Pistorius, died from the same scourge of domestic violence she was hoping to fight, or if she became tragic
victim of a national fixation on crime and self-defense;" friends and family say she had big plans for her
newfound fame, including speaking about violence against women.
30.

FEB. 23, 2013

South African magistrate grants bail for Oscar Pistorius, double amputee track star accused of murdering his
girlfriend, in case that has horrified and fascinated nation and much of world; sets bail at one million rand,
about $112,000, unusually high amount for murder trial in South Africa.
31.

FEB. 22, 2013

South African police replace Hilton Botha, detective investigating Oscar Pistorius homicide case, after
revelations that he is facing seven charges of attempted murder stemming from episode in which police fired
at minivan; development is setback in prosecution's case against Pistorius.
32.

FEB. 21, 2013

Prosecutions push to solidify charges that South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius murdered
girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp deteriorates as its main witness withers under cross-examination at bail hearing.
33.

FEB. 21, 2013

Op-Ed article by South African author Eusebius McKaiser examines dark undercurrents of national
psychology surrounding murder case against Olympic hero Oscar Pistorius in South Africa; points to nation's
persistent problem of brutal violence against women.
34.

FEB. 20, 2013

South African Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius maintains that he shot and killed girlfriend Reeva
Steenkamp by accident, but prosecutors paint picture of calculated killer.
35.

FEB. 18, 2013

Oscar Pistoriuss agent says he is canceling all of the runners future races so Pistorius can concentrate on
defending himself against charges that he murdered his girlfriend in South Africa.

36.

FEB. 16, 2013

Prosecution in case against Oscar Pistorius, double-amputee track star accused of fatally shooting his
girlfriend Reeva Steemkamp, says that it plans to charge him with 'premeditated murder,' most serious
murder charge under South African criminal law; Pistorius makes tearful appearance at courtroom in South
African capital Pretoria.
37.

FEB. 15, 2013

"South African police say paralympic champion and Olympic competitor Oscar Pistorius is charged with
murder after his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, is fatally shot in his home in Pretoria;" development stuns
nation that had elevated Pistorius as an emblem of ability to overcome acute adversity and a symbol of South
Africa's ability to achieve on the world stage; early reports that he mistook her for an intruder give way to
news of prior complaints of domestic violence.
38.

FEB. 15, 2013

Analysis; South African Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius has been both inspiring and polarizing figure in
world of track and field, but now he faces murder charges after his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was
fatally shot in his home.
39.

SEP. 9, 2012

Oscar Pistorius completes his groundbreaking dual-Games trip to London by winning an individual gold,
defending his Paralympic 400 meters title in the Olympic Stadium.
40.

SEP. 7, 2012

South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius surrenders another title at the London Paralympics, this time finishing
fourth in the 100 meters behind Jonny Peacock of Britain, who wins in 10.90 seconds.
41.

SEP. 3, 2012

South African paralympic sprint champion Oscar Pistorius, a month after his groundbreaking Olympic debut,
loses for the first time in a 200-meter final when Alan Oliveira of Brazil wins at the Paralympics in London.
42.

AUG. 6, 2012

Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee runner from South Africa, is eliminated in the semifinals of the mens
400-meter at the London Olympics; he will return to the track as part of South Africas 4x400 relay team.
43.

AUG. 5, 2012

"Oscar Pistorius, the South African double amputee who struggled for six years to reach the Olympics, makes
history by competing in a first-round 400-meter heat and advancing to the semifinals;" his presence raises
more complicated questions about the line between disabled and able-bodied athletes, and it may ultimately
prove to be more of a watershed as the ranks of disabled athletes grow.
44.

JUL. 5, 2012

Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee runner who has forced sports officials and fans to reconsider the
distinction between disabled and able-bodied athletes, is named to South Africas Olympic track team for the
2012 London Games; he will become the first amputee to compete in Olympic track events.
45.

JUN. 30, 2012

Oscar Pistorius, trying to become the first amputee runner to compete in the Olympics, fails to meet the
qualifying time for the 400 meters and now must hope to be selected for South Africas 4x400 relay team.
46.

JUN. 7, 2012

Former world champion runner Caster Semenya has been included in South Africas initial team for the
London Games, but the double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius has not yet been picked.
47.

APR. 15, 2012

Olympic futures of South African runners Oscar Pistorius and Caster Semenya remain unclear after the
national championships; Pistorius is trying to become the first amputee runner to compete in the Olympics;
Semenya, whose victory at 800 meters at the 2009 world championships raised questions about her sex,
retains her national title but does not reach the Olympic qualifying standard