

To think Oscar Pistorius deserves the benefit of the doubt?

(218 Posts)
SilverMoo Tue 19-Feb-13 19:10:10

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I think the media circus around this is really unfair and am shocked so many people are ready to jump on the bandwagon and call him a murdering woman hater before he's even been tried. Just that really.

Ponderingonaquandry Tue 19-Feb-13 20:38:47

No but who are we to say what is reasonable in the mind of someone in his position?

Think. You've got no legs, you're in a country where intruders do pretty gruesome things to their victims, you're in a property that isn't fully secure, the expected reaction for a home invasion is to shoot first ask questions later.

It's not the safe and cosy uk this has taken place in

Jins Tue 19-Feb-13 20:40:27

Some of the evidence suggests that a shot was fired before the victim locked herself in the bathroom....

It will also be interesting to see whose blood is on the cricket bat

Let alone what he was doing with the performance enhancing steroids

I've not reached a conclusion on this, I'm waiting for the judgement, but looking at what's been put before the court I can see why the charge is murder. Let's wait for his defence

CockBollocks Tue 19-Feb-13 20:41:24

Why is it not reasonable? If you genuinely thought that an intruder was behind the door in a country where said intruder would most definately be armed, would you not shoot first? Knowing you would be at a disadvantage being disabled when they came out?

His statement to the court today sounds quite reasonable tbh, but like I say i'm not sure we will ever know the truth.

court statement

CockBollocks Tue 19-Feb-13 20:42:46

The cricket bat will be her blood as he says he used it to smash the door in when he realised what he had done.

NicholasTeakozy Tue 19-Feb-13 20:44:52

Read his statement, not once does express contrition at killing her, except for what he's put her family through. Also, as I said in the thread in the 'In The News' section, his story is as full of holes as a barrel full of arses.

I don't feel sorry for him at all, he chose to shoot. My sympathies are entirely with her family and friends.

Ponderingonaquandry Tue 19-Feb-13 20:48:16

But is that statement the best place for a show of contrition? I thought the point of it was to show the courts he isn't going to abscond if given bail?

MajaBiene Tue 19-Feb-13 20:48:40

It's not reasonable to shoot someone you cannot see, who is not posing an immediate threat to you.

WileyRoadRunner Tue 19-Feb-13 20:48:41

But a lot of this "evidence" at the moment has come from newspapers.

Shots fired in the bedroom and blood on the cricket bat/ fractured skull accusations were not raised today. As they were arguing for it to be seen as section 6 pre meditated would have thought it would have come up.

Perhaps all of those things have been fabricated by the media?

Who knows.

whateveritakes Tue 19-Feb-13 20:52:17

Would you not do a quick check on your girlfriend whilst putting on your legs and getting the gun (under the bed she was sleeping in).

His story makes sense too as most people in South Africa have some story that makes them paranoid. How could you not quickly look over to your bed partner especially if you were yelling at the person in the toilet, putting on legs, finding your gun?

SA is an incredibly violent place and everyone is gunned up to the hilt - I just don't buy the intruder story .... And it detracts and is an insult to those families who have lost family because of 'genuine' crime ....

I just hope the Steenkamps get the truth

SilverMoo Tue 19-Feb-13 20:56:40

From what I have read on mumsnet, home invasions/burglaries in South Africa are a totally different ball game to burglaries in the UK and people try to protect themselves accordingly.

Yes they are - that is why people live in gated, secure developments, with armed response, security alarms and so the need to automatically reach for a gun is somewhat diminished ...

MajaBiene Tue 19-Feb-13 21:00:55

If you live on a secure estate with security guards and you think an intruder is in your bathroom (why would you assume there is an intruder in your bathroom rather than your girlfriend? Sure, if you heard someone in the kitchen or study in the middle of the night then maybe intruder is a reasonable assumption...) would your first instinct really be to shoot wildly through the door rather than checking your girlfriend is ok or alerting the guards or getting out?

MajaBiene Tue 19-Feb-13 21:03:58

He had his prosthetic legs on when he shot her, so its not like he was especially vulnerable or couldn't get away (unlike Reeva Steenkamp).

CockBollocks Tue 19-Feb-13 21:04:54

Did he?

Ponderingonaquandry Tue 19-Feb-13 21:05:22

No he didn't if you read his appeal for bail. He put them on afterwards when he went for help.

Ponderingonaquandry Tue 19-Feb-13 21:06:14

His bail application states he has some but not full mobility on his stumps and did not have his prosthetics on at the time of the shooting.

MajaBiene Tue 19-Feb-13 21:06:59

Prosecution say he had his legs on - I guess that will be easy enough to prove/disprove by the trajectory of the bullets he fired.

mrslaughan Tue 19-Feb-13 21:09:20

I think because he will be apparently tried by a judge, rather than a jury, that he is more likely to get a fair trail and reeva will get justice. RIP

stickingattwo Tue 19-Feb-13 21:12:49

He's one of the world's most famous athletes that's why we're reading about it over here.

It's such a flimsy "defence" - beats his girlfriend, she locks herself in the bathroom, he shoots her.

mrslaughan Tue 19-Feb-13 21:16:03

Well said majabiene

Cantbelieveitsnotbutter Tue 19-Feb-13 21:17:22

The trial by media is disgusting. There's no way his trial can be a fair one now.
Clearly the media decided 'fallen hero' would sell more papers then 'look what this country is leading us to do to each other'

There was a similar case a few weeks ago where a family member shot another thinking it was an intruder.

MajaBiene Tue 19-Feb-13 21:19:11

His trial is just in front of a judge, not a jury, so no reason to think it won't be fair.

herethereandeverywhere Tue 19-Feb-13 21:20:11

What strikes me about his statement is that lots of his assertions could be proven/disproven by forensics/other evidence. eg:

- Legs on/off at time of shooting: trajectory of bullets would dis/prove this.
- All shots through bathroom door: forensics as to evidence of shooting elsewhere
- Bat used just to break door after shooting: forensics should show if it's been used for anything else.

What I find strange about his statement (taking it a face value), is that with 4 shots being fired, why didn't he hear (or listen for) any response from the victim behind the door? Did Reeva stay completely silent? (Maybe her injuries prevented her making a sound, pathologists/medical experts may well be able to ascertain this). If it was a total accident I can't understand how the person being shot wouldn't have made the slightest sound.

He is innocent until proven guilty in respect of his intentions. I'm saddened that an innocent women has died in such violence and that the world thought it had a revolutionary hero and it doesn't anymore.

difficultpickle Tue 19-Feb-13 21:20:22

There is no jury system in SA so he can only be tried by a judge. Lots of what has been disclosed makes no sense to me at all. All I hope is justice is done for all involved. Whatever the outcome of the trial one person has lost their life and the other has destroyed his own future.

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