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| Oscar Pistorius lawyer Barry Roux: a tough-talking 'legal gun for hire' | Oscar Pistorius lawyer Barry Roux: a tough-talking 'legal gun for hire' |
| (12 days later) | |
| "This is like watching a baby seal getting clubbed," tweeted South African journalist Karyn Maughan on Wednesday. The baby seal was police detective Hilton Botha. The club was defence advocate Barry Roux, the man trying to save Oscar Pistorius from prison. | "This is like watching a baby seal getting clubbed," tweeted South African journalist Karyn Maughan on Wednesday. The baby seal was police detective Hilton Botha. The club was defence advocate Barry Roux, the man trying to save Oscar Pistorius from prison. |
| Roux ran rings around the police officer of 24 years' experience who crumpled under cross-examination, his bold assertions about Pistorius's guilt unravelling one by one. | Roux ran rings around the police officer of 24 years' experience who crumpled under cross-examination, his bold assertions about Pistorius's guilt unravelling one by one. |
| The senior advocate of the Johannesburg bar gave a massive confidence boost to Pistorius and his family. They had lost day one of the bail hearing, when the magistrate determined that Pistorius must answer the most serious charge possible. But judging by their expressions and even smiles, they clearly felt they had won day two, thanks in no small part to Roux's robust approach. | The senior advocate of the Johannesburg bar gave a massive confidence boost to Pistorius and his family. They had lost day one of the bail hearing, when the magistrate determined that Pistorius must answer the most serious charge possible. But judging by their expressions and even smiles, they clearly felt they had won day two, thanks in no small part to Roux's robust approach. |
| If this is South Africa's equivalent of the circus that was the O J Simpson trial, then Roux is the heir to flamboyant American defence lawyer Johnnie Cochran. It is speculated that, as one of the country's leading advocates in criminal cases, he could be earning around 50,000 rand (£3,600) per day. | If this is South Africa's equivalent of the circus that was the O J Simpson trial, then Roux is the heir to flamboyant American defence lawyer Johnnie Cochran. It is speculated that, as one of the country's leading advocates in criminal cases, he could be earning around 50,000 rand (£3,600) per day. |
| Roux was admitted to the Johannesburg bar in 1982 and is a senior advocate. An online profile says his practice "comprises criminal, insurance, delictual, aviation, matrimonial, medical negligence, general contractual and liquidation work". | Roux was admitted to the Johannesburg bar in 1982 and is a senior advocate. An online profile says his practice "comprises criminal, insurance, delictual, aviation, matrimonial, medical negligence, general contractual and liquidation work". |
| Observers describe Roux as a legal gun for hire who is not motivated by altruism. In the 1990s he reportedly acted on behalf of lieutenant-general Lothar Neethling, an apartheid-era police chief, who sued newspapers for damages over claims that he supplied a toxin to be used on anti-apartheid activists. | Observers describe Roux as a legal gun for hire who is not motivated by altruism. In the 1990s he reportedly acted on behalf of lieutenant-general Lothar Neethling, an apartheid-era police chief, who sued newspapers for damages over claims that he supplied a toxin to be used on anti-apartheid activists. |
| Roux's other cases include dentist Casper Greeff, convicted of murdering his wife, and businessman Dave King. More recently he was involved in the prosecution of mining magnate Roger Kebble, the father of politically connected murder victim Brett Kebble. | Roux's other cases include dentist Casper Greeff, convicted of murdering his wife, and businessman Dave King. More recently he was involved in the prosecution of mining magnate Roger Kebble, the father of politically connected murder victim Brett Kebble. |
| But never has he had a place in the limelight like this. Each day, watched by dozens of reporters and photographers, Roux takes his seat at a desk beneath the magistrate along with attorney Kenny Oldwage and other members of the defence team. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel and his colleagues sit to the magistrate's right in the somewhat mundane redbrick courtroom. | But never has he had a place in the limelight like this. Each day, watched by dozens of reporters and photographers, Roux takes his seat at a desk beneath the magistrate along with attorney Kenny Oldwage and other members of the defence team. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel and his colleagues sit to the magistrate's right in the somewhat mundane redbrick courtroom. |
| On Wednesday Yesterday Roux showed his mettle by directing firm, aggressive and piercing questions at the hangdog detective on the stand. On a couple of occasions, magistrate Desmond Nair had to step in, like a referee in a boxing match, to give the witness time to finish his answer. | On Wednesday Yesterday Roux showed his mettle by directing firm, aggressive and piercing questions at the hangdog detective on the stand. On a couple of occasions, magistrate Desmond Nair had to step in, like a referee in a boxing match, to give the witness time to finish his answer. |
| But Botha was worn down by the relentless pressure. Whereas he had begun by supporting the prosecution's case and arguing that Pistorius should be denied bail, he ultimately had to concede that he had not found anything at the scene inconsistent with the athlete's version of events. Roux put it to him several times to ram the point home. | But Botha was worn down by the relentless pressure. Whereas he had begun by supporting the prosecution's case and arguing that Pistorius should be denied bail, he ultimately had to concede that he had not found anything at the scene inconsistent with the athlete's version of events. Roux put it to him several times to ram the point home. |
| Afterwards, asked how the day had gone, Roux said simply: "I don't know, I just work here." | Afterwards, asked how the day had gone, Roux said simply: "I don't know, I just work here." |
| "Was it fun?" someone asked. "No case is fun," he replied. "It's hard work." | "Was it fun?" someone asked. "No case is fun," he replied. "It's hard work." |
| As for Botha, he breathed a sigh of relief that his ordeal was over. "It's difficult to concentrate with all the media here, that's the problem." | As for Botha, he breathed a sigh of relief that his ordeal was over. "It's difficult to concentrate with all the media here, that's the problem." |
| How do you feel? "Much better now." | How do you feel? "Much better now." |
| The police's failings may have played a part in allowing Roux to shine. William Booth, a criminal defence lawyer who believes Pistorius should get bail, said: "He did a good job and deserves credit for getting the detective to concede a lot of ground, but my question is: were the police properly prepared, why go to the witness box and say he's a flight risk? Why is he a flight risk? He can't answer." | The police's failings may have played a part in allowing Roux to shine. William Booth, a criminal defence lawyer who believes Pistorius should get bail, said: "He did a good job and deserves credit for getting the detective to concede a lot of ground, but my question is: were the police properly prepared, why go to the witness box and say he's a flight risk? Why is he a flight risk? He can't answer." |
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