Oscar Pistorius Trial Part 8

[Roussette]

here is Number 7.

The defence team argued against the trial being televised from before it began and the decision was made that it was in the best interests of SA justice to do so
Most of the witnesses were only heard and not seen. They had the choice to be shown or not but their spoken testimony except detailed pathology - to save Ms Steenkamp's dignity - was usually live

All the main witnesses gave evidence as expected afaik. From what I have read generally in the SA press the supposition is that the witnesses that weren't keen to give evidence would purely have been character witnesses and that this actually might have been led by Roux to prevent Nel rebutting with very negative viewpoints and to leave a opening for an appeal.
I don't think that character witnesses would have much swayed the judge

Expert witnesses have nothing to fear from court as long as they stick to their area of expertise and act as experts in front of the law

It seems OP has taken to tweeting... if I was Reeva's mother I would feel quite nauseous.

here

He has got a bloody cheek!

You have the ability to make a difference in someone's life??? Blurgh he makes me sick.

Wonder if it's his comms team? Or some automatic thing. No words just three pictures - latest is a bible verse. And what's Oscars Hard Truth? Not linked?

“You have the ability to make a difference in someone’s life. Sometimes it’s the simple things you say or do that make someone feel better or inspire them.”

(hmm) He must think he can carry on as if nothing happened.

thejuice.co.za/top-stories/exclusive-oscars-club-night-turns-into-nasty-brawl-we-speak-to-oscars-team-and-the-person-involved-in-the-argument/

Call me cynical....

He certainly did make a difference to someone's life

Hmmm wonder how much Jared got paid for that.

Nerf according to Karyn Maughan (who usually knows what she's talking about) Jared Mortimer is a close friend of Mark Batchelor who has, of course, his own history with OP and has his own reputation for violence.

Oh there you go then. Less than impartial.

I cannot pay attentiion to what happens when he is out and about because there are always two sides to a story and he is obviously going to be a target because of what he has done. I am surprised he could even bear to be in a nightclub because of that.

I know that bloke probably said some provocative stuff but i don't care personally. He could easily have anticipated that simply going to a nightclub was asking for negative publicity, let alone the chance of trouble brewing with members of the public + alcohol. Utter twat.

I do think going to a nightclub was , on the face of it, a bit inflammatory and stupid.

I agree. I can't find it within myself to have any sympathy for the bloke in question who no doubt has an agenda in this story being publicised, but OP must know it is ridiculously risky to a) go out somewhere like a nightclub where other people will be intoxicated and b) get pissed himself. Asking for trouble on both counts!

I feel a bit sorry for OP regarding the nightclub incident. I'm guessing he thought he would be ok because he was in a VIP section. I don't doubt that the man involved deliberately targeted him so he could sell a story to the media which imo is pretty distasteful. No-one has to try to engineer stories to make OP look worse than he is. The world already knows what he has done.

I'm not sure what I think about the tweets. On the one hand, it looks as though he's working through what life means for him now and trying to convince himself of his value. I think he has to reconcile the two different versions of himself (pre and post murdering Reeva) to be able to take responsibility, face his punishment and be rehabilitated.

However, as his PR, I would have told him to step away from the computer, changed his twitter password and not posted anything except an official response once the verdict is delivered.

Here's the link to The Guardian article about Roux possibly paving the grounds for an appeal:

www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/08/oscar-pistorius-lawyers-hint-appeal-witnesses-refuse-testify-media-coverage

Interesting article but to be able to go for an Appeal seems rather unfair when they could have demanded the 'missing' witnesses attend the trial if they so wanted, so to me that means their testimony will not have helped OP.

I just find tweeting and presenting yourself in a positive light on social media rather abhorrent given the nature of the crime. He could have just gone very quiet and would have gained far more respect if he had done so.

I guess being in a VIP part of a nightclub isn't necessarily bad because he hasn't yet been convicted, but I totally see how it flies in the face of justice and respect. I don't think I'd think too kindly if it was my family or friend that had died, but then until convicted he is a "free man" and a walking duck.

I do think tweeting is very ill-advised and that he should stay schtum.

What Jill said, especially about the tweeting.

He is almost certainly going to prison though, so I'm wondering is this is influencing things.

Roussette yy I thought it was odd that Roux chose not to force the witnesses to testify but then was presenting it as though that could have disadvantaged OP

The other point I thought was interesting was the commentator saying how important it was that OP appeared trustworthy so his version of events was believed. And, that it was a problem for OP's defence that he didn't seem that trustworthy at all. (I'm paraphrasing wildly!)

Yes BookABooSue I agree - not sure how SA courts work but if the witnesses were advantageous to the Defence, they could have called them couldn't they... no good complaining about it after the event because it sounds like a 'loophole' on which to hang an Appeal (not that I know anything

I've not been keeping up with the trial recently. What stage is it at now? I assume it's ajourned at the moment?

Adjourned while they write up their closing arguments, Hibiscus. They'll then submit them to the judge at the end of July, and will argue them in front of her on the 7th and 8th of August.

Thanks Looking

Guilty as sin IMO.

Everything points to it.