BBC sorry for playing 'Hey Joe' after report on Oscar Pistorius shooting case

THE BBC has apologised for playing a song about a man shooting his girlfriend following a news report on Oscar Pistorius's court hearing.

THE BBC apologised after one of its radio stations followed a report about Paralympics star Oscar Pistorius's court hearing with a song about a man shooting his girlfriend.

The bulletin on the digital station Radio 6 Music was followed by the Jimi Hendrix Experience's version of Hey Joe.

The song begins: "Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand? I'm going out to shoot my old lady, you know I caught her messing around with another man".

A BBC spokeswoman said: "In light of the nature of the news story, we apologise for any offence caused by the proximity of the song Hey Joe to the bulletin. An on-air apology was made immediately the mistake was realised."

South African athlete Pistorius was in court in Pretoria for a bail hearing on charges he murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day.