Anyone watching the Oscar Pistorius trial?

Warrigal

Warrigal

SF VIP
Location
Sydney, Australia
We've had daily news and video reports of this trial over here.
The prosecutor is ripping into him quite savagely IMO.

Someone has said that there are no jury trials in SA anymore, so it will be down to the judge to deliver the verdict.
Can anyone confirm this?

Don't bother checking. I've found this?

There are no juries at trials in South Africa and Pistorius's fate will ultimately be decided by Judge Masipa, assisted by two assessors.
Click to expand...

Any opinions on this trial.
 

I haven't been watching it, but I've seen him blubbering in the court room. I knew the judge would make the final decision. My gut tells me he's guilty, from the little I know of what happened.
 

Though it is a trait amongst serving, and like me retired, policemen to veer towards 'guilty before being proved innocent'
particularly in the face of an arrogant person in the dock. I like to buck that trend.

I have do not have any problems with the prosecuting attorney's line of attack, yet have no wish to be a member of a gladiatorial
crowd who bay for blood. I hope that the truth will out ascending, if guilty, the very likely tear jerking defence I expect to follow.
 
In the back of my mind is the thought that in modern Sth Africa whites are afraid of black crime, and not without reason.
I don't know how secure the Pistorius home was, and I suspect that it was probably very secure, but nevertheless fear is irrational.

If an intruder armed with a machete had entered via the bathroom window, an unarmed man without legs would not have stood much chance of defending himself, much less his woman. For that reason, the availability of a weapon is understandable. The type of bullets used is very ominous though.

The evidence, not emotion, will have to decide the outcome of this trial.
 
There has been considerable coverage over here. The whole thing is a bit of a circus if you ask me. i don't believe a murder trial should be used for public entertainment, interesting as it might be given the celebrity status of the defendant.

Is he guilty? I don't know. I hope not if I'm honest, not least because someone who has overcome such adversity is a great role model for disabled people around the world.
 
If the nasty Pistorius isn't found guilty it would one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in history, imo. His story is not in the slightest bit credible. Surely he would have assumed his girlfriend was in the bathroom if he heard someone in there as she was not in bed with him. Intruders don't normally pay visits to the bathroom do they?
 
minimum 25 year sentence for pre meditated murder in south africa, Death penalty abolished in 1995.
No wonder he's putting on such an act.
Life imprisonment is mandatory in South Africa for offences of premeditated murder, gang rape, serial rape and rape where the rapist knew they were HIV positive or if the victim was under 18 and/or mentally disabled. In certain circumstances, robberies and hijackings also carry a mandatory life sentence.
 
Justme said:
If the nasty Pistorius isn't found guilty it would one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in history, imo. His story is not in the slightest bit credible. Surely he would have assumed his girlfriend was in the bathroom if he heard someone in there as she was not in bed with him. Intruders don't normally pay visits to the bathroom do they?
Click to expand...


I thought O.J. Simpson trial was the biggest miscarriages.
 
Jillaroo said:
Witnesses say they heard screams a couple of minutes before the gunshots, so to me she has run in there and locked the door to get away from him, the poor girl didn't stand a chance
Click to expand...

I could not understand if a witness heard screams and gunshots why didn't they call police?
Neighbours who lived closer than this witness reported hearing nothing.
 
"IF" he accidentally shot her, he should still have the book thrown at him for terminal stupidity. How can he say he didn't intend to kill anyone after blindly firing 4 shots through a door. I'd lock the guy up either way.
 
I've been trying to keep up wiith the trial. Unless the Defense comes up with something better than they have thus far, I think the Judge will probably sock it to him. And that prosecutor is the type that gets innocent men excuted in Texas.
 
I heard this morning that he could still be found guilty of murder, even if he thought that he was shooting to kill an intruder.
He has to convince the judge that he fired the gun in a reflex action.

Not an easy task and I don't think his emotional displays will wash with Her Honour.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top