Why will Pistorius face a judge rather than a jury trial?

South Africa abolished jury trials in 1969, while the country was under apartheid, due to fears of racial prejudice by white jurors.

Grant said the change showed that despite it being the "very dark old days," some members of South Africa's judiciary and legislature had been somewhat enlightened.

When will Pistorius' trial begin?

Some high-profile or important cases in South Africa have been fast-tracked and pushed through within a month, but that is "highly, highly exceptional." What is more likely, said Grant, is that the trial would get under way within about six months.

Examples include the fast-tracking of trials during the 2010 World Cup.

How long is it expected to last?

If the trial follows an ordinary course, Grant said, he would expect it to last four to six months -- but that would depend on how aggressively the defense challenged the prosecution case.

"They could dispute everything, in which case there could be 'trials within trials,' " he said.

But he said the defense would have to balance that "against not appearing to challenge things for the sake of it" and alienating the court.

Grant's understanding is that there are few witnesses that could be called -- neighbors among them -- but that if character was to be raised as an issue, "it could cause an explosion of witnesses."

"It could just drag on forever."

What about appeals?

If the trial is heard in a magistrates' court and Pistorius is convicted, he could potentially appeal from the magistrates' court, to the high court, to the supreme court and even eventually to South Africa's constitutional court.

If the initial court did not give him leave to appeal, he could petition South Africa's chief justice for permission.

The right to appeal depends on whether, based on the facts of the case, the initial judge or magistrate believes a different court could possibly reach a different verdict.

South Africa's highest court, the constitutional court, used to be only for cases regarding constitutional matters, but a recent act of parliament broadened its remit.

Why have the media been able to publish speculation?

Grant said he believed the sort of opinions being expressed about the case in South Africa's media have been responsible.

"At this point in time, all we can do is speculate," he said. "The right of freedom of the media, the right of freedom of speech is entrenched in our constitution and is highly respected."