Barry Roux
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Barry Roux SC (born 21 November 1955) is a South African lawyer who was admitted to the bar in 1982. His practice covers criminal, insurance, delictual, aviation, matrimonial, medical negligence, general contractual and liquidation work.[1] He served as the defence advocate in the trial of Oscar Pistorius.[2]
Barry Roux | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 November 1955 |
| Occupation | Defence advocate B Juris LLB |
| Known for | Trial of Oscar Pistorius |
He is also well known for his use of the phrase "I put it to you..."[3]
Career
Roux was born in Mahikeng, South Africa to parents who were farmers.[4] He attended Rooigrond Primary School and Lichtenburg High School. He studied at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and obtained a B Juris LLB in 1981.[5] Roux once told an interviewer, "I studied law at Unisa. Do you think I studied at Unisa because I wanted to?" in reference to the fact that his family was too poor to afford for him to attend a prestigious law school.[4]
Roux was a state prosecutor from 1973 to 1982 and lectured at Justice College, the South African government's training institution for law officials.[6][7] "I earned my first money after Matric at the Department of Justice. It’s only then that I opened my first bank account," Roux said in an interview.[4]
He was admitted into the Pretoria Bar in 1982.[1][7] Amongst the people he has acted on behalf of are Dave King and Roger Kebble (father of Brett Kebble) on separate, unrelated charges of tax fraud.[8]
In the 1990s he also successfully acted on behalf of Lothar Neethling, an apartheid-era police chief, who sued newspapers (including the Vrye Weekblad) for damages over claims that he supplied a toxin to be used on anti-apartheid activists.[9]
Roux defended dentist Casper Greeff, who was convicted in 2001 of murdering his wife.[9]
Personal life
Barry Roux gained an international reputation for being a fearsome cross-examiner and a person unswayed by empathy. However, advocate Manny Witz from the Johannesburg Bar, who worked with Roux for more than 35 years, refers to him as a "very experienced criminal lawyer, and quite a likeable fellow. He is very, very professional, and very competent."[10]
Roux has also been described as "a hardworking but private person."[10] Roux commented in an interview, "I own a holiday house. It’s not a good investment, but it’s wonderful."[4]
Roux's interest are walking, going to the gym and running. He is married to Audrey Botha and they have two children.[6][7]
Media
Roux's style of cross-examination has led to many parodies including:
- The ‘Barry Roux Rap’ on YouTube[11]
- The song Because I'm Barry by Brad O’Regan[12]
- A fake Twitter account: @BarryRouxLaw
- The Michelle Burger: Extra Grilled fake advertising campaign for Nando's South Africa,[13] referring to his intense cross-examination of the first witness in the Oscar Pistorius trial resulting in her crying.
Among his phrases used in the Pistorius trial that have been parodied are:
- What if I put it to you that my dog barks like a cat?
- Who puts a fan on a balcony?
- Are you fine or are you ok?