OSCAR PISTORIUS MURDER TRIAL: the blade runner oscar pistorius shoots girlfriend

[crash]

^ That coincides with the rationale of High Court Judge Mlambo back in February when he ruled that the trial could be televised.

"The justice system is still perceived as treating the rich and famous with kid gloves whilst being harsh on the poor and vulnerable," the judge said.

"Enabling a larger South African society to follow first-hand the criminal proceedings which involve a celebrity, so to speak, will go a long way into dispelling these negative and unfounded perceptions about the justice system, and will inform and educate society regarding the conduct of criminal proceedings."

I understand Judge Mlambo's sentiment, but I think these guys would brush it off as lip service for a rockstar's trial..

I think that Nel and the state are sincerely pursuing a murder conviction against Pistorius. And, IMO, Roux and Pistorius are pulling out all the stops to paint Pistorius as a victim of South Africa's high crime, a botched investigation, and his disability.

They would also argue that this was on purpose (if it comes to be a significant factor in a Not Guilty ruling), and that is how the system works for rich or well known white guys.


There are no juries in South Africa and it is one of 140 countries which has abolished the death penalty -- it's been banned there since 1995 (though, from your post, it sounds like some citizens choose to impose it unlawfully themselves).

So, deciding whether Pistorius is guilty of murder, culpable homicide, or nothing but mistakenly thinking he was defending himself, is on the shoulders of Judge Masipa and her two appointed assessors (the assessors have the power to challenge Masipa's decision if they disagree).

Well hopefully the truth will lie at least half way in between, HotD, and whatever the decision, it is based on fact and purveys a reasonable amount of justice. I understand the sentiment of change in South Africa, but I'm not believing it's occurring just yet..