55 replies to this topic

[Mackus]

These are the allegations that he is tasked with defending himself against.

Like Sports Guy said, he's going to have a tough time defending why he didn't yell "who's there?" before firing four shots into his locked bathroom door. It's pretty obvious to me that he shot his girlfriend after a fight, but I don't know what juries are like in that country.

It's not his burden to say what the prosecution alleges is untrue. It's the state's burden to prove that what Pistorious is saying is untrue, and/or that what they are alleging is true beyond a reasonable doubt (assuming the system is similar in South Africa).

[BSLChrisStoner]

http://espn.go.com/o... ... police-say

From that link:

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel projected a plan of the bedroom and bathroom in the courtroom and argued that Pistorius had to walk past his bed to get to the bathroom and could not have done so without realizing that Steenkamp was not in the bed.

"There's no other way of getting there," Nel said.

Detective Warrant Officer Hilton Botha said the trajectory of the bullets showed the gun was fired pointed down and from a height. This seems to conflict with Pistorius' statement Tuesday, because the athlete said that he did not have on his prosthetics and was on his stumps and feeling vulnerable because he was in a low position when he opened fire.

[Pedro Cerrano]

It's not his burden to say what the prosecution alleges is untrue. It's the state's burden to prove that what Pistorious is saying is untrue, and/or that what they are alleging is true beyond a reasonable doubt (assuming the system is similar in South Africa).

Not always

http://en.wikipedia....rmative_defense

[SammyBirdland]

Not always

http://en.wikipedia....rmative_defense

Exactly. He admits to pulling the trigger. He's basically claiming self defense. He now has his own burden of proof to meet, in that he has to convince the jury that he has valid reasons for not yelling "identify yourself or I'll shoot" before pulling the trigger blindly four times, just moments after walking past his girlfriend's vacated side of the bed (whom he just finished having an extended argument that was loud enough for neighbors to hear).

[Pedro Cerrano]

Exactly. He admits to pulling the trigger. He's basically claiming self defense. He now has his own burden of proof to meet, in that he has to convince the jury that he has valid reasons for not yelling "identify yourself or I'll shoot" before pulling the trigger blindly four times, just moments after walking past his girlfriend's vacated side of the bed (whom he just finished having an extended argument that was loud enough for neighbors to hear).

Well assuming the law is the same in South Africa, yes, if he's alleging self defense the burden shifts to him.

[NewMarketSean]

So the lead detective is facing attempted murder charges himself, and this is hurting the prosecution.

What a strange, strange case this has become.

[SammyBirdland]

So the lead detective is facing attempted murder charges himself, and this is hurting the prosecution.

What a strange, strange case this has become.

Ok, I changed my mind. I no longer think Pistorius will get convicted.

I can't believe the incompetence. It's no wonder that South Africa's murder conviction rate is less than 10%.

[Oriole85]

Ok, I changed my mind. I no longer think Pistorius will get convicted.

I can't believe the incompetence. It's no wonder that South Africa's murder conviction rate is less than 10%.

If I had known that South African's murder conviction rate was just that, I'd say the chances of Oscar getting convicted were much less just based on him being a high powered celeb.

[Oriole85]

ESPN: Oscar Pistorius granted bail

http://espn.go.com/o...te-desmond-nair

Nair set the bail at 1 million rand ($113,000), with $11,300 in cash up front and proof that the rest is available. The magistrate said Pistorius must hand over his passports and also turn in any other guns that he owns. Pistorius also cannot leave the district of Pretoria, South Africa's capital, without the permission of his probation officer, Nair said, nor can he take drugs or drink alcohol.

[Oriole85]

Listening to Roger Cossack on the case, very interesting to learn that the Judge has "assistants" who help him with his verdict.

[Oriole85]

ESPN: Oscar Pistorius trial date set

 

http://espn.go.com/o...d-murder-charge

[Oriole85]

Fox News: Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius pleads not guilty as murder trial opens

 

The first witness in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial testified Monday to hearing "blood-curdling" screams from a woman before she heard four gunshots on the night the double-amputee Olympian killed his girlfriend.

 

Michell Burger, who lives about 196 yards from Pistorius' house, said the screams woke her in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a toilet door.

 

Burger's evidence contradicts Pistorius' version of events because the runner said he thought Steenkamp was in bed and did not describe any woman screaming.

[Oriole85]

ESPN: Boxer: Pistorius didn't want blame

 

Oscar Pistorius asked a friend to take the blame after a pistol was accidentally fired in a Johannesburg restaurant, weeks before the double-amputee runner fatally shot his girlfriend, a witness testified Wednesday at Pistorius' murder trial.

He's starting to sound more like Aaron Hernandez.

[Chris B]

http://nypost.com/20...prison-release/

 

I know I'm going to hell for this but I think it's hilarious that he may not be able to get house arrest because he doesn't have ankles.

[SportsGuy]

http://nypost.com/20...prison-release/
 
I know I'm going to hell for this but I think it's hilarious that he may not be able to get house arrest because he doesn't have ankles.

It's absolutely hilarious...and since he got away with murder, it makes the "justice" he got a little better.

[SportsGuy]

This is hysterical!

NSFW