The argument put forward was that one would be frightened, intimidated, in giving evidence. That may be seen as 'cultural reasons' but the DM doesn't otherwise specify what the cultural reasons, plural, were. Pity really , because , without that sad omission is impossible to judge whether that phrase represents one argument or several arguments, how valid it is, or how valid any individual argument was.
The Mail must have appeared by counsel, in which case we should be proud that a newspaper , not itself a party to proceedings, is granted right of audience before the judge in those proceedings.
It is by no means unusual for restrictions on reporting to be imposed until verdict. Had this continued under restrictions, any verdict of guilty would not have been covered by them.
Must say, I can see such a rule as being of universal benefit. What is the benefit to justice in having the prosecution opening, not itself evidence,given and then daily selective reporting of every piece of damning evidence? When the accused is acquitted, they have the whole world thinking they did it, regardless of the result. This is particular pernicious in local papers, which habitually headline the prosecution opening, but never give any prominence to the acquittal