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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Oscar Pistorius deserves the benefit of the doubt?

217 replies

SilverMoo · 19/02/2013 19:10

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.

OP posts:
littlemonkeychops · 19/02/2013 19:14

I agree, it's awful for all concerned and an absolute dream for the media

WileyRoadRunner · 19/02/2013 19:17

YANBU

LindyHemming · 19/02/2013 19:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RedHotRudieParts · 19/02/2013 19:18

Yanbu, he's entitled to a fair trial.

FutTheShuckUp · 19/02/2013 19:19

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Mine is he is as guilty as sin shrug

Wereonourway · 19/02/2013 19:19

I said the same at work today and got a flaming from colleagues.
In this country the trials usually takes months and months to come around and although the media cover them extensively I feel the images of the court room etc just a week after the event are quite upsetting.
We don't know what happened, yet the media over there, and even the police seem quick to right off the accident theory.
Very sad, I really feel for her family too. The media coverage surely won't be helping them

HokeyCokeyPigInAPokey · 19/02/2013 19:20

YANBU.

WilsonFrickett · 19/02/2013 19:20

He's entitled to a fair trial.
Not sure why the media here is so all over it.
However he did shoot and kill his girlfriend.

Jins · 19/02/2013 19:21

No he deserves a fair trial - not the benefit of the doubt!!!

He has been accused of murder. It needs to be fully heard. How can you possibly give someone who has been accused of murder the benefit of the doubt???

Original poster
SilverMoo · 19/02/2013 19:22

I know the reason they have released so many details is because he will be tried by a judge and not a jury, but the media are clearly using this information to shit stir, for want of a better word.

OP posts:
slatternlymother · 19/02/2013 19:23

wilson it's because we, as a society, love the celebrity culture. It also fills column inches/news time and stops people focussing on the PM/economy etc. Anything to detract from that, eh?

I do happen to agree. It's a matter for the courts. However, I fear he has already had a trial by media.

Also agree this must be horrific for Reeva's family.

McPheetStink · 19/02/2013 19:23

I think I may be one of the very few, who genuinely don't think it was meant to happen. That it wasn't premeditated. Personally, I am more inclined to say it was a shit series of events and responses to what he thought was happening in his home.

Happy to be proved wrong though.

WileyRoadRunner · 19/02/2013 19:24

How can you possibly give someone who has been accused of murder the benefit of the doubt???

Ummm because he's innocent until proven guilty.

cocoachannel · 19/02/2013 19:24

Had the police not made the statement about other reports of domestic violence at the house just hours after the shooting the public/media to e would be very different. I really can't see why that was allowed to happen. Yes, they were responding to speculation about him suspecting an intruder and a horrible accident caused by mistaken identity, but could have just said it is too early for speculation. He may well be guilty but should have a fair trial.

Jins · 19/02/2013 19:24

Well you'd hope that if it was premeditated he'd have done a better job of it

Jins · 19/02/2013 19:25

Ummm because he's innocent until proven guilty.

Yes but giving someone the benefit of the doubt doesn't mean that to me.

giraffesCantFlipPancakes · 19/02/2013 19:25

I am shocked at how many details are coming out so fast

WileyRoadRunner · 19/02/2013 19:25

although I hasten to add he is guilty of killing Reeva whichever way the trial turns out.

PeggyCarter · 19/02/2013 19:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChairmanWow · 19/02/2013 19:29

Agree with Jins. And I think it's fair to say that it is at the very least difficult to give someone the benefit of the doubt when they're charged with murder. There has to be a reasonable assumption of guilt otherwise why try someone?

Media circus OTT though. The facts will out during the trial. Sadly the media want blood now and are not prepared to wait for the sake of a fair trial.

CarlingBlackMabel · 19/02/2013 19:30

What he deserves is a fair trial. FAIR.

I would have hoped that what he has a right to is a fair trial, but the SA process of the police telling half told stories and snippets to the public, the lawyers trading hardly-researched random bits of 'evidence' in the bail hearing without forensic back-up, and no jury when it does come to trial suggests to me that it will rely on speculation and assumption as much as proven evidence.

It doesn't matter who the accused is, no justice system has worth unless it is scrupulously fair.

lljkk · 19/02/2013 19:34

yanbu, but if you believe his story he's still guilty of 2nd degree murder (manslaughter). What a waste.

olgaga · 19/02/2013 19:37

Unlike here there is no jury trial in SA, so the fairness of the proceedings isn't assumed to be affected by the media circus.

One thing's for sure, it's too late for the woman he shot dead to enjoy any agreeable notion of "fairness".

Wereonourway · 19/02/2013 19:38

I also wondered why the police were giving out info on previous visits to the home.
Do South Africa not use trial by jury?

gimmecakeandcandy · 19/02/2013 19:39

I am so shocked by this. Whatever happened a young woman has died in terrifying circumstances and he has ruined his life and all he stood for. What a waste - a terrible waste.