I have been watching this channel dedicated to the Oscar Pistorius trial and last night I could not help, but ask myself this question; do we really have to know what happened to her skull when the hollow bullets collided with it?

Do I really have to know that there was food in her stomach which could've been ingested 2 hours prior to her death?

The 4th estate, media, wants to argue that I really really have to know what happened, but do I really really have to know?

For what? Will I use the information they give me to vote for the verdict?

The only good I see is that it could be an engaging subject matter at dinner parties or braais.

Pierre De Vos argues that the media should carefully distinguish between "public interest" and "public's interest" in their operations and criticism of the judge's ruling relating to allowing certain parts of the trial to be aired live or not.

If we argue to say that dedicating a TV channel and radio stations is for public interest, what really?

The public's RIGHT to know how this public arm of government called justice and courts work? Do we think that the reporting so far has been to impart knowledge to the public on the workings of our justice system or is it for public's interest, more like an interesting thing to know like, knowing the score between chiefs and pirates?

Would you consider it a RIGHT to now the score between chiefs and pirates?

How then do we separate our right know know or our interests to privacy of people directly involved? Ever imagined what if OP is acquitted on whatever reason? Would the media and public accept the verdict? I know they say we are setting a legal/media precedence by this trial (OP has always been a trendsetter), but to what extent would the media cover trials and to what effect is the public going to consume the broadcasts.

Are we going to dedicate a channel for every approved application we make at the courts and would we watch or it'll be just law students?

What would've happened had the case not been broadcasted, would I be writing this article?

Could it be that this is a self fulfilling prophecy? In that the media feeds us the story and we get hooked and media turns around and says that the public wants to know.

Does the public want to know or they just consume what's easily accessible or available, more like we like brown or white bread when they are the only two options available...make pink bread and we shall see.

Maybe just maybe these are the privileges the rich and beautiful enjoy. Poor miners at Marikana were shown repeatedly while they were being shot...after all they're faceless poor people, but when it comes to others hearing how they died is disrespectful to their soul.

• Thabiso Motshegoa writes in his own capacity. Thabiso is a civil engineer, who grew up in Alexander and now lives in Fourways.