Executives at Britain's Bbc network have issued a public apology for playing a Jimi Hendrix song about a man who shoots his girlfriend after a news report on accused killer Oscar Pistorius.

The organisation was flooded with complaints after the The Jimi Hendrix Experience's version of Hey Joe was played on radio station Bbc 6 Music on Tuesday (19Feb13), just moments after a bulletin about the ongoing case of the South African Paralympian.

The sports star has been accused of shooting dead his model girlfriend at his home, and Bbc bosses have now apologised for airing the song, originally by rock group The Leaves, which features the lyrics, "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 statement from the corporation reads, "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."