Forensic auditor Johan van der Walt will continue his testimony in the trial of businessman Schabir Shaik today without microphones recording his evidence.

Judge Hilary Squires, presiding at Shaik's corruption and fraud trial, yesterday said that he needed time to decide on an application by SABC, Radio 702, Cape Talk and e.tv to broadcast an audio recording of proceedings.

A previous application by e.tv to televise the trial was dismissed.

The trial was interrupted for the court to hear argument in the radio application. Van der Walt had been expected to be cross-examined by advocate Francois van Zyl SC.

In a lighter moment yesterday, advocate Brian Pincus SC, for the SABC, was discussing the possible abuses of radio recordings. "Who wants to listen to someone crying?" he asked.

"Who wants to listen to Johan van der Walt being cross-examined?" Judge Squires quipped.

The legal teams for the radio stations and e.tv stressed that radio would cause minimal disruption of proceedings while allowing maximum access to court proceedings.

Advocate Billy Downer SC, who is leading the prosecuting, said in papers before court that he was concerned about his witnesses and their reaction to their evidence being broadcast.

With acknowledgement to Cape Argus.