Oscar Pistorius Trial part 9

[JillJ72]

Starting a new thread as part 8 is nearly full, here - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/in_the_news/2080468-Oscar-Pistorius-Trial-Part-8

Oh BookaBoo I agree about his time in prison, Bribery is rife there and I have no doubt that his money and fame will speak volumes inside, I think no one need worry about his treatment, and, I agree that 10 months is a scarily low sentence for his actions.

I just think he has been out of action for some time now and in careers such as top class athletics he will not be in a athletic enough stance to compete with others at such a high level. Yet I do think in the future he will cash in on his notoriety with books, public speaking etc... which I totally find distasteful. Sadly nothing surprises me than people wanting to listen to someone like him Id rather he was forgotten if that makes sense.

One of the things I found troubling about the judge was: in the trial she rejected the evidence of witnesses who had said they had heard Reeva scream as witness evidence is 'notoriously unreliable' when this was an objective kind of evidence.

But then in the next part of the case she completely and utterly accepted the witness evidence of the doctor who said Pistorius was genuinely upset. And that was totally subjective evidence, one person might have thought he was genuinely upset, if another person had been there they might have disagreed and thought he was putting it on so that would be totally and utterly unreliable, far more unreliable than hearing a scream or not.

The judge has been appalling since giving her verdict. She seems to have had her head turned both by fame and by Pistourius court room histronics which should have had no bearing on the verdict.

The thing I found most disturbing was the way she adjourned the court before the verdict of culpable homicide. She had already reached her verdict and locked away the transcript in her safe. After the not guilty verdicts she adjourned the court for lunch. There was a whole afternoon free and she was expected to return to court and deliver the verdict. She kept the court out for a long lunch break. Returned and had everybody on the edge of their seats, but the adjourned again after 15 minutes. If she wasn't going to give the verdict after lunch she could have adjourned it before lunch. The whole thing was calculated to give the most dramatic effect. She seemed to think she was starring in some sort of soap opera.

How can you dismiss one kind of witness evidence as unreliable then in the next breath use witness evidence of an even more unreliable type to acquit? It just doesn't make any sense.

No Territ, it wasn't an accident. He is culpable, it wasn't manslaughter....

BookABooSue, I have heard that some other prisoners have a price on his head.

I don't think anyone can predict how the other prisoners will treat him. It could go either way. I also wonder how rich he is, after paying the legal fees. The said in court that he has sold all his properties.

Being able to apply for house arrest in 10 months doesn't mean it'll be granted. It just means you can apply.

aermingers but they are two very different types of evidence. One person who's hearing various noises, in the middle of the night having just woken up, from several meters away, through windows. The other testifying about the behaviour of a man he's in the same room as.

disgusted at the outcome .

I've always been of the opinion that he knew it was Reeva in the bathroom, his money and fame has got him off a murder charge here.

Saying that, for a moment there I thought he was going to get house arrest/suspended sentence, so I'm pleased he got the 5 year sentence. Disappointed that it sounds like he'll get out way before the 5yrs are up, but at least he'll serve time in prison for what he did. Wish he'd got longer though - the arrogant, gun-crazy, bad-tempered, foul-mouthed man. I'll always see him as a murderer.

My opinion - OP bullied and killed his girlfriend. I think he shot her because he was in a bad temper and was an aggressive violent man. I am very disappointed with the trial and the sentence.

Five years .

x posted with you sabrinnnna and I agree with you - I see it like that.

Think it's fair. He killed her by manslaughter, not premeditated.

I do think it's appalling that he should be banned from competing after he has served out his time.

Are we to deny him his livelihood after he's paid his dues to society?

What about all other prisoners serving sentences for the crimes they were found guilty of - are they to go on the dole forever, and never work again?

Do we punish him everyday of his life, or just the amount of time he's been sentenced to.

Is there no room for rehabilitation or change?

Is there no room for reconciliation?

I think we need to think about what prisons are, and how we prepare prisoners for reintegration back into society once they've served out their sentence.

It's shameful if he's not allowed work as he wishes after he's released from his sentence.

I'm quite sure he's been on suicide watch, and will be in prison.

My heart goes out to Reeva's family. I'm glad they think justice has been served for their girl.
I hope they can all find some peace now.

Well quite a lot of people's careers would be ruined by a manslaughter conviction. Not all crimes are spent under the 1974 rehabilitation of offenders act and many professional bodies would kick a member out for criminal activity.

He hasnt been banned from working, just Olympic competing, its a standard that the committee has. However, realistically in five years he would not be of the caliber to compete on the level anyway.

Reconciliation with who?

Blue meant to say, are you a member of SfEP btw? Just noticed quite a few German proof-reading jobs coming through recently, which may be of interest.

[oops, sorry, posted on totally wrong thread] [blue]

As you were ...

[blue] eh?

Agree with LittleBear, being found guilty of a violent crime rules out all kinds of jobs.

I am disappointed at the outcome. If he gets out in 10 months, that is not exactly a big punishment for taking someone's life.

As for not competing, what are you talking about VenusRising? He would be allowed to compete after the 5 year sentence. Why is it appalling that he would not be allowed to before the 5 years are up?

Pistorius admits he knew there was a person behind the door. Whoever, it was he shot them again and again, with a very powerful weapon, blowing his victim's brains out. He knew he would kill that person. The very least he deserves is a much longer prison sentence.

As for 'poor thing being banned from the Olympics' give me strength! Representing your country is a privilege, not a right.

I'm at a domestic violence conference today ironically. I can't believe tt Reeva's life is apparently worth so little. Disgusted

I always thought the OP threads were based on facts. But some have taken what's reported in the media as gospel. It's only a possibility that Oscar can apply for parole after serving a minimum 1/6 of his term for good behaviour.

The victim and her university friend had planned to start a law firm to help abused women after graduating.

Five years and manslaughter. OP's lawyer earned his fee.

RIP Reeva.

Why is it DV?

He shot through the door because he thought his and Reeva's lives were in danger. Criminals in SA often carry weapons hence the high murder rate.

He is disabled and therefore feels more vulnerable than an able bodied person, something few of us can comprehend.

He is not innocent. He intended to kill. But he was also frightened, not thinking clearly, disorientated and acting instinctively. Ultimately someone would be killed and that someone was his girlfriend. She was the victim and needs to have this acknowledged in the sentence and verdict.

I think the sentence is fair and I think it's a tragedy for all concerned.