Barry Roux: Oscar Pistorius murder trial lawyer goes viral
Barry Roux has been mobbed outside the court, begged for his autograph, and had his stock phrase in cross-examination, "I put it to you", adopted into popular culture.
Oscar Pistorius's lawyer Barry Roux has emerged as the star of the athlete's murder trial, featuring in rap parodies and fake Twitter accounts.
The veteran advocate has been mobbed outside the court, begged for his autograph, and had his stock phrase in cross-examination, "I put it to you", adopted into popular culture. (Read: Prosecution wraps case)
"I put it to you, that it is true / everything you say, I will misconstrue," are the lyrics of a rap parody of Roux created by a South African radio station.
"I'm Barry Roux and I put it to you / ten times in a row just to confuse you."
Another parody song, Because I'm Barry, has been set to the hit track Happy by US artist Pharrell Williams.
Roux's dogged questioning has itself become an internet meme.
"What if I put it to you that my dog barks like a cat when it's nervous?" one meme asks, referring to Roux's argument that screams heard the night of the killing were from a high-pitched, distressed Pistorius and not his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. ("I'm scared of you," Reeva Steenkamp told Oscar Pistorius in text message)
"I put it to you that Oscar kicked the door so high because he has had chorus line training," reads another meme with a picture of Roux emphasising a point.
Then there is "Chuck Norris? Never heard of her!" - a reference to the famous American actor and action film hero.
Fake Twitter accounts have also popped up, attracting several thousand followers.
Fans have chased Roux down the street when he left the courthouse, and last week a woman in the courtroom asked for his autograph.
After initially refusing, the stern lawyer relented sheepishly, and the admirer left triumphantly with a note bearing his signature.