BBC apologises over screaming sound effects

BBC radio listeners in the UK were left shocked when the sound of a woman screaming and howling dogs were played over a news report about Oscar Pistorius' murder trial.

The technical glitch occurred on Monday when the presenter of local station BBC Coventry & Warwickshire reported that the South African athlete had pleaded not guilty to the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

"The Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his girlfriend on the first day of his trial in South Africa," the presenter said.

But at the same time, listeners could hear the sound of dogs barking. 

A woman's screams could then be heard soon when the presenter continued to read, "He admits shooting Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year".

The error occurred on the first day of the Blade Runner's trial where witness Michelle Burger told the court she had heard "bloodcurdling" screams the night Ms Steenkamp died, the Mirror reports.

The BBC apologised and put it down to a technical mistake glitch.

"There was a technical mistake where sound effects being prepared in another studio for an unrelated item were accidently broadcast over the news bulletin," a BBC spokesman said.

"We apologised for the error immediately afterwards."

Source: Mirror

Author: Emily Crane, Approving editor: Matthew Henry