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Original poster

To think that being broke and 'a broken man' doesn't mean Oscar Pistorius shouldn't serve a jail sentence

68 replies

meltedmonterayjack · 17/10/2014 20:50

I absolutely HATE the "He's a broken man" line that is trotted out in the majority of court cases. I'm sure having to go through a long court case is a horrible experience but why on earth should that be a mitigating factor when it comes to a judge considering sentencing?

And if he hadn't done what he'd done he'd probably not be broke either. I feel really angry when I see reports on this.

When my ex-H was sentenced, his defence did the whole 'broken man' thing. He perhaps wouldn't have been a broken man if he hadn't a) committed a criminal offence in the first place and b) been caught and then tried for it. Luckily, although the sentence was way too lenient, the judge wasn't having any of it and he did get a jail sentence. I think I'm probably projecting here, but I felt really angry when Pistorius's defence came out with that cliched line.

OP posts:
londonrach · 18/10/2014 07:05

He should be i in a jail as put simply he killed another human being. Not surprised he a broken but he will heal in time, his girlfriend wont.

Springheeled · 18/10/2014 08:09

I have a sinking feeling he'll be treated leniently. I'm not falling for the 'broken man' thing and hope he is banged up for the maximum sentence.

DoctorTwo · 18/10/2014 08:16

He deliberately put four bullets through a door the other side of which he knew a fellow living, breathing human being was standing, in the full knowledge that said human would likely be killed. Also, those bullets were designed to expand upon impact to cause maximum damage. I doesn't matter who he thought was the other side of that door, he committed murder and deserves to go to jail.

If he's not given significant jail time it shows how little a woman's life is worth in South Africa.

feathermucker · 18/10/2014 08:29

I have no sympathy whatsoever.

I doubt he is a broken man; I hope he will be though as it's the very least he deserves.

The strongest possible jail sentence should be given. Hope he rots.

Roussette · 18/10/2014 08:39

Of course he's a broken man! His life as he knew it - being feted and adored, commercial endorsements bringing him £££, the world at his feet, friends and hangers on, celebrity lifestyle, money, houses .. all that is gone in an absolute moment of madness.

I've been following the trial closely (thread on here) and I think the tears, the vomiting and the distress is all for himself and what he has lost. Yes, of course, he will regret his actions because of the above but I honestly think he hasn't fully taken on board what he has done to another family. He has taken their much adored only child. How Reeva's parents could have sat there and seen him snivelling and retching like that, god alone knows.

No one but him will ever know if he knew she was behind that door - perhaps he was in genuine fear of an intruder but does that give him the right to gun down someone in cold blood? Not one bullet. Four. Not ordinary bullets. Black talon ones designed to inflict the maximum damage imaginable. And as the prosecution said in court yesterday - why didn't he fire a warning shot outside the toilet. His answer was - he was afraid it would ricochet into him. Yet he fired four shots into a far smaller space. That tells me he shot to kill whoever was in there. And for that he should be jailed.

Let's not make him a victim here, this was by his hand. Yes, he's lost everything and he should lose his freedom too.

Roussette · 18/10/2014 08:40

DoctorTwo I think it shows how little any life is worth in SA.

Original poster
meltedmonterayjack · 18/10/2014 10:55

Foxglove my reply was supposed to be to magichicken. Apologies. Was middle of the night brain fog. And I state again, this time to Themagicchicken I am not comparing my situation with this one. I am drawing similiarities between this and many court cases (included my ex's) where ridiculous and insulting comments are trotted out in a desperate attempt to spare the guilty from a 'proper' sentence.

He is a danger imo. He's not safe to be in society at present. He certainly shouldn't be allowed to spend the night with another woman without security guards being around. Pistorious could hear another intruder and then that's another poor woman's life snuffed out

Really have to hope that the judge is wise enough to realise he needs a proper sentence and not something that is an insult to Reeva's family and that sends the message that if you are a white and famous, you can do pretty much what you want and get off lightly.

OP posts:
ChickenMe · 18/10/2014 12:54

I read the arguments from each side re sentencing. The defence were laughable. We all know he is entitled to have his defence but I hope the judge sees through their ridiculous pleas. At the end of the day he took a life, at the very least he was negligent and there has to be a consequence for that.

hackmum · 18/10/2014 12:58

I agree, OP. There's an incredibly sad article in the Guardian Family section today about a young woman murdered by her ex-husband. He stabbed her 21 times. In court, his defence was diminished responsibility, and he apparently came out with the "broken man" line. He was given three years. Three frigging years for taking another human's life.

mymummademelistentoshitmusic · 18/10/2014 13:19

Call me cynical, but having watched a good bit of this, I strongly suspect he would get over being 'broken' surprisingly quickly should he get away with this. And by get away with I mean no substantial incarceration.

foslady · 18/10/2014 14:16

And I imagine part of his 'healing' would involve a book deal and an Oprah type interview with more tears....

Personally I want him to stay broken in a prison cell for a long, long time .....

mummylin2495 · 18/10/2014 14:30

A lot of this trial has focused on how he is broken, well so what. The most moving thing for me was this week when Reevas cousin spoke about her so movingly, it was good to see someone actually speaking about her and what the family have lost. Heartbreaking to see Reevas parents in tears. They have been so dignified. He has to be sent to prison. He killed her.

Fixerupperz · 18/10/2014 14:38

Eurgh. So what if hes a broken man, she lost her life! Its an insult to her family the whole bloody fiasco.

Moghedien · 18/10/2014 16:20

The whole things a bloody farce, someone commented they'll be asking her family to replace his bathroom door next. A sick comment but I could see where it came from.

EasterEggHuntIsOver · 18/10/2014 23:23

I have a horrible feeling he'll be let off lightly and I really hope I'm wrong. He hasn't even been found guilty of murder, but of manslaughter. And the judge seems to believe Pistorius' version of events.

So very sad for Reeva's family.

FoxgloveFairy · 18/10/2014 23:54

Heh heh. No problem Melted! Did wonder what I'd said though!

EasterEggHuntIsOver · 20/10/2014 21:51

I hope justice is served tomorrow.

VenusRising · 20/10/2014 22:06

I also hope justice is served, but think a custodial sentence isn't the right one in this case.

Yes I know Reeva is dead and that he was responsible, but I also know that there are other types of punishment which may be more suitable.

In many cultures a blood payment/ weregild / eric was acceptable for culpable homicide/ manslaughter.

I feel that in our desire to have heroes and to push people to extraordinary feats such as winning Olympic gold medals, we are all part responsible for creating monsters.

It's not a cut and dried case here, and I hope that compassion plays a part in the sentence also.

It's too easy to crash a gavel down and hang a man, but whether it's just is another thing.
Those prisons in South Africa sound inhumane for all the inmates and I wonder if they all should be emptied, an amnesty declared, and a new system of non custodial punishment might be better for everyone, especially with the research to show that prisons don't rehabilitate prisoners, and that justice isn't served to the greater community by turning prisoners into hardened criminal gang members.

Amnesty international reports on the prisons in RSA make interesting reading. I wouldn't send a dog there.

My sympathies to Reeva and her family, and to Oscar and his.

anonacfr · 20/10/2014 22:16

I feel that in our desire to have heroes and to push people to extraordinary feats such as winning Olympic gold medals, we are all part responsible for creating monsters.

I'm sorry what? I genuinely don't get your point.

slugseatlettuce · 20/10/2014 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

anonacfr · 20/10/2014 22:28

I still think it's a cut and dried case.

Not only did he kill someone but he was also convicted of gun negligence- that also carries a custodial sentence. He should have been convicted of an additional charge for holding ammo in his safe (I still don't get the judge's logic on that verdict).
The picture painted when you look at the case is of an arrogant and reckless man who asked people to lie for him and didn't take responsibility for his actions.

He committed the ultimate crime and his girlfriend died in agony as a result- now we should worry about his wellbeing?

VenusRising · 20/10/2014 22:29

I'm talking about people pushing and driving themselves beyond the point that mere humans can stand.
Training extensively day after day for years and pushing themselves beyond the normal response to pain, and to shut down their normal risk adverse feelings perhaps isn't in their or our best interests.

I think Oscar Pistorius has overstepped the line in his psyche to think that his reality is normal, when in fact it isn't. But that's what drove him to the gold medals, and what we applauded him for.

Hatespiders · 20/10/2014 22:29

Well I can't imagine Reeva's parents would accept the insult of 'blood money' for their daughter's life. They've already spurned his offer of £23,000. (and quite rightly)
How can Olympic champions be described as 'monsters'?? There must be thousands of Olympic athletes and they don't all go shooting their girlfriends through toilet doors.
Prison DOES work in that it keeps evil people off the streets for a period and punishes them (to some extent) Your suggestions of letting them all out would result in total anarchy.
It's interesting to note that Pistorius' defence claimed he needed rails on walls to get about, yet there isn't a single one in his apartment. Their bleatings caused the head of prisons in SA to present an angry reply which among other things said he would be humanely treated in jail and probably have a single cell in a special unit.

anonacfr · 20/10/2014 22:34

Venus seriously I don't want to sound patronising but professional sportsmen are not at all like what you describe.
They actually are v risk adverse- they're incredibly disciplined and they protect their bodies through their training and daily routine.

VenusRising · 20/10/2014 22:41

Well, they're my feelings on the subject.

I don't think prisons are a good idea in general, but then I have friends who work in prisons, as teachers, (teaching prisoners how to read) and as psychologists,(for staff and prisoners) and even they don't particularly think custodial sentences are good for anyone. Most people who end up in prison have mental health issues, and are below average IQ.

There is a case for releasing all the prisoners in RSA and rethinking the whole crime/ punishment /retribution /rehibillation/ reconciliation thing there.
The crime rate is rising and rising even though the prisons are overstuffed with violent criminals. It's obviously not working!

It's madness to keep stuffing the prisons and hope for a less violent society without doing the work of rehabilitation and reconciliation.

My feelings are that Oscar could bery resonably sue for a retrial if the world is baying for his blood and undue influence is brought to bear on the judge. I hope he has fair sentence, for Reeva and for himself.

I also hope they review their lamentable prison system now that the spotlight has been shone on it, as it's shameful for all South Africans to know that the would sees them as violent and clueless as to what to do about it.