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Greg Palkot describes scene in South Africa courtroom after chief magistrate's decision
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I was so great -- -- who was less than five feet away.
From Oscar the story as while all of this played out in the courtroom -- what can you tell us from in that.
Mark bill amazing stuff again I was just a couple feet away from Oscar the story is when the word came down that in fact.
He was free on bail he started to cry uncontrollably behind them is families yelled out a -- of cheer they clearly saw this as -- at this at at least a small victory.
The the accused was then I'll -- off and then the family continue to to cheer and -- each other.
I left them as they were in an embrace a circle embrace like I spoke to a few with a family and friends and they said they were happy they were gratified but this was a long -- -- sure you've been explaining to our viewers we were in -- hot sweaty court -- and -- -- -- known to be methodical certainly took his time going through piece by piece through the evidence.
Through his arguments through the case and finally coming to the conclusion that in fact.
Bail should be granted to the story is that he did not.
Represent a flight risk as he called it he did not represent a risk to other individuals and it would not impede the case but in fact it took a long time to get to that point and the -- made a lot of other points as well.
The key issue about whether or not this shooting this death.
Of -- -- of Revis being camp the former girlfriend while the story as.
That was still left open in -- the judge saying that while he was less inclined.
They think that it was pre meditated murder in fact it was not his position to decide whether it was he would keep -- in what is called category six here in south African law and it would be the would be -- job of a trial judge to decide whether in fact is premeditated murder but he would perceive all on Wal-Mart along those lines he did.
Pick apart the case of a detective -- that was the lead detective in the case up until about all day and a half ago.
Time and time again he said the evidence gathering was sloppy but that he came around and said it.
Not detective book that is the state case that case is still out.
Out there and then point by point by point by point he said he had troubles with the various aspects of the story being put out.
By the defense.
For the story as the actions on the night -- the early morning hours on Valentine's Day which left the slain girl in the slain woman.
In that the bathroom again.
I was very close to the story is in the courtroom again only just a couple of feet away I kept glancing over to him.
And he lost composure again and again and again.
Is his head was down first downcast and then literally in his hands when the judge went through the events of that tragic night.
When he -- recounted.
Eyewitnesses and friends of the story is talking about the relationship with -- camp he was crying he was he was clearly worked up.
There was an adjournment date in the in the case in the in the hearing for the judge to leave for a moment and that.
-- two composed through some degree.
The accused he came back out and heard this decision on the bail that that by the way the mechanics of that as this that should be -- happening in the next couple of hours.
It will be processed here and we're waiting for the details of exactly -- he will be -- -- but but.
I'm on from a short range standpoint family and friends telling me that they are gratified by the decision on bail on the longer range standpoint that is the state of the case against the story is still a lot of questions a lot of doubts raised by this methodical judge in this lengthy conclusion -- this bail hearing Martha.
Today it is so striking -- as you say.
That judge laid out in very clear terms why he thought that the defense's story does not hold up.
Why it was in implausible improbable that the way that the defense is describing what happened that night could be -- And yet and then he went together and piece together and that the problems with detective both as an investigation.
I and it and it felt -- because they could not establish a violent past for the story yes.
-- a history of this kind of behavior and because they cannot prove.
That what happened that night AE it is as it might appear that that prompted this judge to say in that gives me no reason not to allow -- to be out on bail.
-- what about the question of you know what happens now you know what kind of restrictions will be on Oscar -- stories as he waits for his trial.
Do they have a speedy trial system in South Africa or is -- something that's gonna drag on you know indefinitely before we see in back in court.
Martha from legal exercises picking through this will drag on they don't see an actual trial.
In this matter although it seems like there's been a trial here the last couple days at least for many many months if not maybe until the end of this year and that was probably one of the big arguments for allowing the story -- to be granted bail.
The prisons and South Africa are rough conditions in these cells -- off.
Crime is -- here and I think that weighed on the judge's mind heavily that the story is and one of -- south African prisons for 678.
Months waiting for the trial to start all that could raise even more problems yes he will be under -- to supervision tight restrictions we know where he's going to be he's going to be at a at a family home there will be tabs on him.
It on his movements but going into this hearing -- I was basically told that it looked like the judge would grant the -- but once again for our viewers -- -- underscore.
I think the judge -- underscore this to.
This does not in any -- you really make a decision make a judgment on the case that in -- again -- -- time and time again thought that there were all sorts of problems with the version of events that the stories his lawyers a laid out again 6789.
Times the judge said he had problems with that.
At the same time yes he was pretty fair and and pretty balanced on this matter at the same time he took a part time and time again.
The initial work.
By the state I think basically now we say Martha that South Africa has to get down to business and really put some top investigators on this and create a case at at and what I've been told by legal experts is the forensic evidence is not in the autopsy.
Evidence the ballistic all of this is still to come.
All of this potentially.
Potentially damaging -- Yes so many details -- -- think about the angle of the bullets in the way they went into that door and whether or not that determines if he.
Had his prosthetic -- not at the time or not and whether that custody issue.
Premeditation perhaps in what was going on we heard.
You know -- -- about how she was dressed in street clothes when she was in there which doesn't back up the story of you know a couple asleep in bed and hearing somebody.
Sending go bump in the night in another ram and and causing them to to fear.
One more question that I have for you Greg is just in terms of the the trial when it does happen.
It will be to a trial judge but just so everyone understands here at home.
There won't be a jury in this case to convince.
That's a fascinating point you're -- you're crazy market you're absolutely right.
There is no tradition no system of -- jury trial in this country is one judge one judge alone.
Perhaps with some assistance but he's the one -- deciding things and so we all up to one person.
And if that person has one inclination or another in the nation who knows that could weigh in on on a trial as well but you're right it is it is not a jury trial it is the state presenting their cases -- defense presented -- case I could tell you from sitting in that courtroom for a couple of days that defense team is top notch and -- they can -- any holes and in the State's case.
They will they will looked at that but but.
Initially point Martha withdrew workers race to me that -- the fact that the lead detective was bounced from the case the fact that the detective both was disparaged by the defense team.
That might come back to haunt the defense team I am told by by one insider they might have now South Africa's law enforcement agency.
Completely focused on this -- The chances they will make as many mistakes as we saw in the past couple days perhaps lesson month.
Got a couple things -- crossing here one is that he has been ordered to avoid his home.
To avoid the witnesses in this case to surrender his passports.
Is it conversion.
On that bale comes out to about 28000 dollars which seems rather low considering.
What he's been accused of here.
And then means that he has so.
It did this has been an extraordinary.
Warning in this whole case.
Greg thank you very much -- and when I graduated.
