A four-part feature on the story of Oscar Pistorius has garnered negative reviews from audiences who watched it via BBC over the weekend. Called ‘The Trials of Oscar Pistorius’, the documentary has been slammed for shedding “too positive and sympathetic” a light on the Paralympian despite being found guilty of the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

The documentary aired in the UK over the weekend, and is produced by ESPN. Many described it as “uncomfortable to watch” and criticised the producers for completely leaving out Steenkamp’s murder. An op-ed in The Guardian called out the BBC for portraying a male perpetrator as “misunderstood” and completely ignoring the violent crime he committed against his partner.

According to Sonia Sodha, who wrote The Guardian’s article, the director of this documentary is on the record saying he “still flip-flopping” on Pistorius’s innocence, despite a court having found him guilty for murder.

 

 

 

 

The documentary is yet to air in South Africa, but many of those in the UK who had watched it advised ESPN not to allow it to air in other countries, as viewers believe the negative backlash will only build.

So far, the channel has not decided to remove the documentary from its scheduling and it is planned to be aired in four parts from November 19 till December 10 on DStv.

If you want to view the documentary, the airing schedule is as follows:

– Part 1: Thursday, November 19 at 8pm.

– Part 2: Thursday, November 26 at 8pm.

– Part 3: Thursday, December 3 at 8pm.

– Part 4: Thursday, December 10 at 8pm.

Repeats of every episode will be broadcast on each following Sunday, from 8pm.

Picture: ESPN

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Lucinda is a hard news writer who occasionally dabbles in lifestyle writing, and recent journalism graduate. She is a proud intersectional feminist, and is passionate about actively creating a world which is free of discrimination and inequality.