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Original poster

Oscar Pistorius trial part 4

987 replies

Pennies · 15/04/2014 09:53

Here you go.

OP posts:
LookingThroughTheFog · 17/04/2014 15:36

I think that one thing the trial has showed conclusively is that Pistorius must have almost no self-control. Or perhaps he asserts so much self control in training that the rest of his life is thrown into a bloody shambles.

It's one reason I'm on the fence. I'm occasionally not prepared to say that he could tell the lie for that long under that much pressure.

That he slipped up over whether he shot deliberately or whether the gun going off was an entire accident sticks in my head.

Today, I'm on the side of him not knowing it was Reeva in the toilet until she screamed, and then him not being able to stop shooting quickly enough.

On the other hand, his dogged repetition of 'I don't agree, m'lady.' over and over when the actual answer to the question could have been a simple 'no' makes me think he's determined to say that and only that. That's his go-to phrase when he thinks he might get something wrong. And it's when really challenged that he starts getting upset and takes a break...

The problem is, it's really very comfortable on this fence.

Nerf · 17/04/2014 15:39

I don't know what evidence there is to indicate the test of his life is a shambles? He hasn't been in trouble before, he maintains a house, no bankruptcies, no violent episodes - nothing in the media.

LookingThroughTheFog · 17/04/2014 15:41

I was thinking specifically about the row at the Olympics, and the firing of his gun through the sunroof because he was angry.

Maybe 'a bloody shambles' is too strong. Certainly he doesn't seem to have self control in situations where he's been mildly inconvenienced.

StackALee · 17/04/2014 15:47

What was the row at the Olympics?

LookingThroughTheFog · 17/04/2014 15:48

Thinking about it, he pleaded not guilty to the sunroof shot, didn't he?

That baffles me entirely. I have no clue what his defence might have been (I missed that bit of the trial); that it didn't happen at all?

LookingThroughTheFog · 17/04/2014 15:51

Maybe I'm wrong about that. I just think that he doesn't come across as calm and measured. I think he does react without thinking, but that's just a personal opinion.

Hillwalker · 17/04/2014 16:11

There have been a couple of interviews with him which suggest he is a risk-taker and pretty reckless. One was in the New York Times; not sure about the other one. Both mentioned his gun obsession.

BeCool · 17/04/2014 16:11

If Dixon is discredited on 5 out of 6 points, then surely his testimony on the 6th point is worthless, as he has been discredited as an expert witness?

Hillwalker · 17/04/2014 16:12

Yes, Looking, he claimed the witnesses to the shooting through the sunroof incident were both lying.

FreeLikeABird · 17/04/2014 16:12

Just seen these tweets, interesting!

@Debora_Patta: #OscarTrial Defence pathologist Dr Perumal will not be testifying in the athlete's Defence which is why Dixon and Botha were called

@AFPAfrica: #BREAKING A star pathologist hired by Oscar Pistorius won't testify in trial @SJFindlay learns. His findings are said to support prosecution.

JillJ72 · 17/04/2014 16:13

Stack OP wasn't happy with the length of Alan Oliveira's blades in the 200m final, which Alan won (so OP lost). He had a point to make, but it was the wrong place, the wrong time, and detracted from Oliveira's win. Also a shame because OP was someone that had inspired Oliveira.

Hillwalker · 17/04/2014 16:16

So we were right! Roux had to call Dixon because a better expert would not testify for OP.

FreeLikeABird · 17/04/2014 16:18

Looks like it hillwalker, I'm trying very hard to sit on the fence here but I have to say things are not looking good are they?

FreeLikeABird · 17/04/2014 16:21

Also this

@Debora_Patta: #OscarTrial Prof Gert Saayman testified that to the best of his knowledge Defence's Perumal agreed with him that Reeva ate 2hrs before death

Sorry I am copying the tweets to here for people who don't use twitter. Hope others don't mind.

LookingThroughTheFog · 17/04/2014 16:25

You know what, I'm in a God-awful mood today, which may be colouring my opinion of Pistorius today. I request that my testimony is stricken from the record. (Though not in the sense that I'm actually going to ask MN to do that - I'm just saying, today, I am safely ignored.)

LookingThroughTheFog · 17/04/2014 16:26

What happens in the case with the pathologist then? He works for the defence team, so presumably Pistorius will still have to pay him?

FreeLikeABird · 17/04/2014 16:28

Yes looking, the sunroof shooting he said never happened at all.

Sorry I need to catch up on the rest of thread, my dd not feeling well so not kept up today.

AnyaKnowIt · 17/04/2014 16:32

If op wanted you, could he plea Bargin or is it too late?

LookingThroughTheFog · 17/04/2014 16:36

A star pathologist hired by Oscar Pistorius won't testify in trial @SJFindlay learns. His findings are said to support prosecution.

Bet he can't tell the difference between an emerald and a sapphire though.

BeCool · 17/04/2014 16:39

Gosh I feel so sick for OP right now.

BeCool · 17/04/2014 16:41

Bet he can't tell the difference between an emerald and a sapphire though.

looking you may be grumpy today but you are funny!

StackALee · 17/04/2014 16:44

has there ever been any suggestion that maybe Oscar locked her in the toilet for some reason?

sorry - silly speculation but just wondering if the fact that she was supposedly heard screaming before the gun-shots could lead to a question about that?

JillJ72 · 17/04/2014 16:51

I think it's sad - by nature of this being a high profile case, it's like experts just don't want to be associated with this. I wonder also if it had been mooted that it would be televised, and that's another reason why experts found other things to do. If I was OP I'd be rather upset I was paying good money for a questionable time in court, equally it can't help the Steenkamps that this takes on a circus element. It doesn't help anyone. Sad.

LookingThroughTheFog · 17/04/2014 16:58

I feel so sick for OP right now.

I find I feel more sympathy for Dixon. He got a right grilling, when, to all intents and purposes, he probably didn't think he was going to be called. Despite the fact that he went down dreadfully, it was probably better that at least one expert from Pistorius' carefully hand picked team turned up to support him.

has there ever been any suggestion that maybe Oscar locked her in the toilet for some reason?

You know what? This is a really interesting question. It would explain why he could find the key in a dark(ish) area, on the floor, from above (so reaching down from the middle of the door to get it.