Barry Roux
Born (1955-11-21) 21 November 1955
Mahikeng, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
OccupationDefence advocate B Juris LLB
Known forTrial of Oscar Pistorius

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]

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?

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Barry Roux SC - Advocates Group 21". Advocates Group Twenty One. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  2. ↑ Aggregated content. "Gerrie Nel vs Barry Roux – Things you may not know", Archived 25 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine Sowetan, 17 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Chang, Lulu (2 May 2014). "Who Is Oscar Pistorius' Defense Lawyer Barry Roux? 5 Things You Didn't Know About The 'Rottweiler' Attorney". Bustle.com. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Whitfield, Bruce (25 July 2016). "Oscar Pistorius defence lawyer Barry Roux opens up about money". 702.co.za. Johannesburg. Archived from the original on 26 July 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  5. ↑ Akerman, Nick (7 March 2014). "Oscar Pistorius' Lawyer Barry Roux: Who Is the Man Defending Blade Runner?". Bleacher Report Inc. Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Pistorius trial: who is Barry 'the bulldog' Roux?". eMedia Holdings Ltd. eNCA. 6 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 "Names in the News" (PDF). Journal of South African Bar Association (in Afrikaans). SA Bar Association. April 2001. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  8. ↑ Laing, Aislinn (20 February 2013). "Oscar Pistorius: profile of defence lawyer Barry Roux". The Telegraph. Pretoria. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  9. 1 2 Smith, David (20 February 2013). "Oscar Pistorius' lawyer Barry Roux: a tough-talking 'legal gun for hire'". South Africa. The Guardian Weekly. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  10. 1 2 "The other side of Barry Roux: A 'likeable gentleman' and family man". The South African. Blue Sky Publications Pty Ltd. 14 March 2014. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  11. ↑ "Barry Roux Parody Song - YouTube". YouTube.com. 947 Joburg. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  12. ↑ Burbage, Frank (27 March 2014). "The top 10 Barry Roux parodies". The South African. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  13. ↑ SAPA (7 March 2014). "Grilled Michelle Burger Pistorius advert fake: Nandos". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
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