Posted on 09/12/2014 11:21:45 AM PDT by Steelfish
12 September 2014 Oscar Pistorius Verdict: Steenkamp Family Protest
The parents of Reeva Steenkamp say "justice was not served" after South African athlete Oscar Pistorius was acquitted of murdering their daughter.
June and Barry Steenkamp told NBC News of their "disbelief" that the court had believed Pistorius's version of events.
Judge Thokozile Masipa found him guilty of the lesser charge of culpable homicide, saying the state had failed to prove he intended to kill.
Pistorius has been allowed bail ahead of sentencing on 13 October.
Judge Masipa said the athlete had acted "negligently" when he shot his girlfriend through a toilet door, but in the "belief that there was an intruder".
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
The only thing that makes sense is that they had an argument...and she locked herself in the bathroom until he calmed down. Instead, he became more enraged...grabbed the gun and shot recklessly through the door.
So, the South African OJ?
What is behind the media fascination with this case?
Can’t say I blame them. He probably won’t spend a night in jail.
They can appeal. But I think they may just have hope that the judge gives him the max (15yrs) at the sentencing next month.
She was pretty. He was popular. And he doesn’t have feet.
What more do you need?
I think this is a Lizzie Borden case where the only scenario that makes sense is murder, but the state can’t prove that beyond a reasonable doubt.
I am not surprised by this. I will be surprised if he does spend anytime behind bars. He has fame and I think wealth as well if he was just a regular guy he would be in prison for doing this.
What is behind the media fascination with this case?
Other than a world class, handsome athlete killing a beautiful former model girlfriend in his home by shooting through a door and now on trial with a possible life sentence? Absolutely nothing.
I didn’t follow it closely but his story seemed plausible.Violent crime...break ins,murders,etc...is so bad there (including in prosperous areas)...that Detroit looks down right peaceful by comparison.Sleeping with no legs would make you feel more vulnerable for sure.
No,his story had a degree of credibility to it as the judge pointed out.I think what he's been convicted of is something along the lines of negligent homicide.The only real threat OJ felt from Nicole was the $30K/month alimony and Goldman...wrong place,wrong time.Can't leave a witness.
Celebrity Afrikaner disabled athlete murdered his Afrikaner girlfriend.
That and the question of whether it was first degree murder has been the controversy in what many in South Africa have dubbed “The Trial Of The Century.”
He got a manslaughter conviction which outraged the Steencamp family.
“All the accused had to do was pick up the phone and ring security, or run to the balcony and call for help,” -The trial judge, in finding Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide (i.e. manslaughter to us)
Really? All he had to do was ...
Only shorter...
My understanding is that, for South Africans of English and Dutch ancestry, Pistorius represented them and modern South Africa somehow, overcoming adversity to keep running, even winning. And that his precipitous fall from grace was more stunning for that reason, especially because it involved his killing the very person he should have been protecting more than any other.
Seeing his GF missing from the bed and seeing the bathroom door closed would be a complete shock for anyone. Blasting away at the door is the only reasonable action in such a situation.
Parts are plausible, others not so much. I have trouble with him waking up thinking there was an intruder in the home, his girlfriend not being in bed, and him deciding to shoot through the bathroom door multiple times to kill the intruder on the toilet. It just doesn't seem as plausible as him shooting her intentionally.
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