In a bid to portray the "real truth" behind Oscar Pistorius's killing of his girlfriend, the Blade Runner's PR team has launched a Twitter account.
Pistorius goes on trial next week for the St Valentine's Day killing of his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
The Twitter Handle @OscarHardTruth, linked to Pistorius's official website, www.oscarpistorius.com, was set up to provide factual updates around the trial, said his PR agent, Anneliese Burgess.
Tweets from the account managers, including Pistorius family members and Burgess, said: "This feed will provide the hard truth as it unfolds and provides information that will become clearer during the trial . we will address the truth and expose those with ulterior motives. The truth will prevail."
The Twitter handle carries a picture of Pistorius with the caption: "Do not judge without knowledge. Allow the truth to prevail."
A few hours after its launch, more than 10 000 people had followed the account.
Social media lawyer Emma Sadleir said that though legal, the tactic carried risks.
"The standard law in South Africa is that anything said on social media can be heard in a court of law," she said.
"The standard approach for an accused should be to say nothing until he has had his day in court."
On the risk of a tweet breaking the sub judice rule, Sadleir said: "The law of contempt of court states that the only kind of public commentary that should be restricted is one [that constitutes] a real and substantial risk [of] prejudice to the administration of justice. Whatever happens outside the courtroom is not relevant to what happens in the trial. This would be of concern only if we had a jury system."
Burgess said: "This is an info platform, not one for engagement. This and the website will be used to provide information."
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