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

[Carsman]

That's no punishment. I could be very happy under house arrest.

I'm currently under "house arrest", and some times I'm under house awake!


(And that SOB got away with murder! 5 years is a joke, and 10 months is absurd!)

[Maggot]

Dammit! That idiot crybaby deserves the same as anyone else would have gotten. Justice is blind, but in this case the entire head was missing.

[ramseycat]

Disappointing to say the least. But I'm not surprised. I thought I heard Duchess scream FUCK!!!! when she read the news.

[Duchess]

I was disheartened but prepared for her ruling. I had a feeling it was going to end like this. I'm very sorry for everyone that cared about Reeva as I don't feel this is justice in any fashion. It's really nothing more than a gentle slap to Oscar.

[Blindgreed1]

I was disheartened but prepared for her ruling. I had a feeling it was going to end like this. I'm very sorry for everyone that cared about Reeva as I don't feel this is justice in any fashion. It's really nothing more than a gentle slap to Oscar.

He should have gotten the chair for taking out that incredible hottie.

[Midwest Spy]

I predict he won't be found guilty of the most serious charge.

I could see him being convicted on firearms charges and serving 6 months to a year, with the rest suspended.

thank you from our Mock legal analyst

I think Aussie was taking.a shot at me here, but it looks like I was spot on once again.

[HairOfTheDog]

People walk away from killing others without being convicted or serving any jail time in the US and South Africa frequently.

It's very difficult in states and countries where the prosecution has to disprove the defendant's claim that he was in fear for his life, rather than the burden falling on the defendant to prove his own proclaimed state of mind and actions. In many cases, the only person who could really disprove the defendant's claims beyond reasonable doubt is dead.

Anyway, I'm disappointed in the sentencing because I don't believe Oscar Pistorius' version of events. But, I'm relieved that Pistorius was at least handed the equivalent of a manslaughter conviction and didn't get off scot free.

Even if he truly did think it was an intruder in the toilet, Pistorius should serve several years behind bars for such gross negligence resulting in death, IMO -- hoping that the analysts' speculation that Pistorius will be out within 1 year is off-base.

[Blindgreed1]

I predict he won't be found guilty of the most serious charge.

I could see him being convicted on firearms charges and serving 6 months to a year, with the rest suspended.

thank you from our Mock legal analyst

I think Aussie was taking.a shot at me here, but it looks like I was spot on once again.

If the Vikes pulled off the win on Sunday I'd tell you to play the lottery.

[HairOfTheDog]

I was disheartened but prepared for her ruling. I had a feeling it was going to end like this. I'm very sorry for everyone that cared about Reeva as I don't feel this is justice in any fashion. It's really nothing more than a gentle slap to Oscar.

I was disheartened too and couldn't reconcile Judge Masipa's ruling with her rationale for it.

If Oscar Pistorius shot with the intent to kill someone (as Masipa said she believed), that equates to "murder", not "culpable homicide". It doesn't make any difference whether he was trying to kill Reeva or trying to kill what he believed was an intruder.

Masipa didn't believe the shooting was an accident and didn't believe that Pistorius had acted reasonably in responding to a perceived intruder, so I don't understand why she ruled culpable homicide (and neither do a lot of legal analysts).

Prosecutor Nel is appealing the verdict and sentencing. He's asked Judge Masipa to send the case up to South Africa's Supreme Court on the basis that she misinterpreted the law/definition. He wants Pistorius behind bars for at least 15 years. I hope Nel succeeds with the appeal.


Pistorius was escorted to his cell almost 2 months ago. He was issued a 5 year sentence, which legal analysts believe may in fact turn out to equate to less than a year behind bars. He's in a single cell at the hospital ward of Pretoria Central Prison.

Story: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oscar-pistor...th-africa/

[HairOfTheDog]

APPEAL MOVES FORWARD

Judge Thokozile Masipa announced that prosecutors can appeal the acquittal on murder charges of Oscar Pistoriusthe ruling in a Pretoria court on Wednesday.



"I cannot say the prospect of success at the Supreme Court is remote," said Masipa as she gave her ruling.

If the culpable homicide verdict is overturned and Pistorius is convicted of the more serious crime of murder, the prosecution can petition the Supreme Court of Appeal over the five-year sentence and they have a chance of getting a longer one.

[Duchess]

Hallelujah!

[HairOfTheDog]

PISTORIUS RECOMMENDED TO BE PAROLED IN AUGUST

A parole board is set to recommend that the disgraced athlete Oscar Pistorius, convicted in the killing of his girlfriend, be released from prison in August, South Africa's Department of Correctional Services told CNN on Monday.

Pistorius, 28, was sentenced in October to five years in prison for culpable homicide in the killing of Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013. In South Africa, culpable homicide means a person was killed unintentionally but unlawfully. Pistorius was found "not guilty" of intentional murder; prosecutors are appealing that "not guilty" ruling.

Story: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/08/africa...index.html
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I sure hope the prosecutors win their appeal. Otherwise, Oscar Pistorius could well be free in 2 months.

[Maggot]

I hope they think about it before they spring him.

[Midwest Spy]

Reeva's family has got to feel like they've been hit with a sledgehammer.

[Duchess]

Oscar Pistorius could well be free in 2 months.

Noooooo. No!

[HairOfTheDog]

Oscar Pistorius could well be free in 2 months.

Noooooo. No!

It's such bullshit.

Pistorius will be released on August 21^st from the hospital ward of the prison. He's been held there instead of a regular cell due to his disability; you know, that disability that didn't stop him from competing in the regular Olympics or anything.

The prison officials approved him for parole after serving 10 months of his 5 year sentence, based on his good behavior. The guards say he's given them no problems. Well, big effin' deal.

Reeva's parents are pissed, justifiably so IMO. They say they're forgiven him and aren't seeking revenge, but that Pistorius killed their daughter and should serve appropriate time.

I'm hoping that prosecutor Nel continues to pursue and wins the appeal of Judge Masipa's sentencing, and that Pistorius winds up going back to serve a more appropriate sentence in the future.

Ref: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/pa.../55905.htm

[HairOfTheDog]

PISTORIUS RELEASE / PROSECUTION APPEAL


Pistorius is scheduled to be released from prison on Friday. He's served 10 months of his 5 year sentence for culpable homicide and qualifies to serve the rest on probation/house-arrest due to his good behavior.

The Prosecution's appeal of Judge Masipa's interpretation of the law and her ruling is set to be heard in court in November.

I very much agree with the Prosecution's contention that Masipa's ruling was incorrect.

Culpable homicide is death caused by an accident or unintentional shooting. In his final/amended version of what happened, Pistorius -- a skilled/experienced gunman -- painted himself as being unaware that he was pulling the trigger (huge eyeroll) when shooting at what he thought was a violent intruder. In her detailed decision explanation, Masipa acknowledged that she didn't believe that testimony to be true and no reasonable person would.

Still, in contradiction to that part of her decision, she acquitted him of murder and found him guilty of only culpable homicide (unintentional yet unlawful/negligent shooting).

The final ruling makes no sense in context with the judge's full decision explanation IMO. The shooting was not in self defense. It was not accidental. It was not unintentional. Masipa acknowledged all of those points. So, Pistorius should not have been acquitted of murder -- he shot at someone through a door intending to kill the person (whether he knew the identity of the person behind the door or not is irrelevant to the law).

Anyway, I hope the Prosecution succeeds on appeal and Pistorius goes back to prison for a more appropriate sentence. He could get 15 years if the appellate judges find him guilty of murder and overturn Judge Masipa's ruling/sentence - mote it be.

Refs:
http://www.usnews.com/news/world/article...reme-court
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oscar-pistor...eme-court/

[Duchess]

I'm outraged! Anderson reported last night that Oscar would be doing his house arrest inside his uncle's mansion. Fucker. He's supposed to be suffering in the slammer!

[aussiefriend]

^I saw that too! I emailed a friend in the Middle East who is British who is working there, we have been following it. The cry baby act, the snot coming out of his nose, the hysteria, the vomiting.....and when outside the court, horrible to the family. Just like OJ.

You have to give it to Reeva's family, they have class. They have maintained their composure and restraint throughout this freakshow. They have been dignified and above reproach at all times. I honestly can say, I don't know if it would the same if it was me.

When I heard today on CNN that he was going to be living in his Uncles mansion I thought it was terrible, especially for the family. You know he will be laughing and enjoying his life. I personally think he will fuck up again. Maybe not with a gun, but these type of people can't help themselves.

[HairOfTheDog]

PISTORIUS RELEASE DELAYED

It's gotta suck to believe for months that you're getting sprung on August 21^st, only to find out on August 19^th that it ain't gonna happen.

Man, I hope the parole board review can't be scheduled til way off in the future.

Snip:
South Africa's Department of Justice said it is putting Oscar Pistorius' release from prison on hold until his case is reviewed again by a parole board.

Department spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said Pistorius' release will have to be reviewed again because he was approved to be moved to house arrest too early.

"It is apparent... that the decision to release him on 21 August 2015 was made prematurely on 5 June 2015 when the offender was not eligible to be considered at all," Mhaga said in a statement.

"The consequence of this decision is that the earlier decision of the Parole Board to place the offender under correctional supervision is suspended until the Parole Review Board has decided on the matter," Mhaga said.

Pistorius was due to be moved to house arrest on Friday after serving 10 months of his five-year sentence for manslaughter for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

Mhaga didn't say when the parole board would meet to consider Pistorius for release from jail.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oscar-pistor...f-justice/