UK Justice Forum 🇬🇧

Other High Profile Cases and Persons of Interest => Oscar Pistorius and the killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. => Topic started by: Holly Goodhead on December 03, 2015, 02:01:06 PM

Title: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: Holly Goodhead on December 03, 2015, 02:01:06 PM
Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-34993002

16

Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: Admin on December 03, 2015, 02:46:04 PM
Confirmed: Oscar Pistorius verdict changed to murder

3 December 2015

(http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2177992/images/o-OSCAR-PISTORIUS-facebook.jpg)

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of murder after a South African appeals court overturned an earlier manslaughter verdict.

Pistorius killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013 after shooting four times through a locked toilet door.

He is currently under house arrest after spending one year of his original five-year sentence in jail.

Pistorius will have to return to court to be re-sentenced, for murder.

It took Judge Eric Leach 53 minutes to read out his ruling that, for Oscar Pistorius, changed everything.

He praised Judge Masipa’s handling of the original case, acknowledging the difficulties posed by the “glare of international attention.” But his judgement, unfortunately, excoriated her assessment of the case, and her application of the complex law of “dolus eventualis.”

In short, it was her assessment that Oscar Pistorius did not foresee the likely consequences of his actions, though he should have done.

In the view of the Supreme Court, Pistorius, “Gambled with the life of the person behind the bathroom door and that he must have foreseen death.”

It will now fall to Judge Masipa to apply a new sentence. Guidelines indicate a minimum of 15 years imprisonment, minus time already served. But less can be applied if there are compelling factors.

The minimum sentence for murder in South Africa is 15 years, but judges can apply some discretion.

South African law does not make provision for someone to be placed under house arrest for more than five years, so Pistorius will be going back to prison, reports the BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg.

More...    www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-34993002

http://news.sky.com/story/1599031/oscar-pistorius-conviction-changed-to-murder

www.independent.co.uk/news/people/oscar-pistorius-guilty-of-reeva-steenkamp-murder-a6758386.html
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: Anna on December 03, 2015, 03:16:02 PM
Thanks Admin. I missed that one. Got him!


Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: John on December 03, 2015, 03:36:02 PM
Thank you for the video link Anna.

Lady Judge Masipa's logic was certainly flawed when she arrived at her judgement.   Pistorius was intent upon murder regardless of who was behind that toilet door, the fact that it was Reeva was neither here nor there. I always knew he didn't have a leg to stand on. ?{)(**

Justice has been done at last, three cheers for SA justice at least in this case. 

(http://www.thenewage.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/2015-12-03T100728Z_443770490_GF20000083406_RTRMADP_3_SAFRICA-PISTORIUS.jpg)

Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Eric Leach.
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: John on December 03, 2015, 03:49:45 PM
BLOEMFONTEIN – On Thursday 3 December 2015 the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that Oscar Pistorius should have been found guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp.

In November, prosecutors said Pistorius should be convicted of murder and sent back to jail, while the defence argued that the sentence the athlete had received was appropriate and should stand.

These are the judges of the Supreme Court of Appeal who decided his fate:

Judge President Lex Mpati
Born: 5 September 1949, Durban
Education: LLB Rhodes University 1983
Previous positions;
Deputy President, Supreme Court of Appeal: 1 January 2003 – 14 August 2008
Acting Judge, Constitutional Court: 1 June 2007 – 30 November 2007

Nonkosi Mhlanthla
Born: 2 May 1964, Port Elizabeth
Education: B Proc (1987) University of the North, Limpopo
Previous positions:
Judge of Appeal, Supreme Court of Appeal: 2009
Acting Judge, Constitutional Court, 2012

Eric Leach
Born: 17 August 1952, Port Elizabeth
Education: LLB (1974) Pietermartizburg, Natal
Previous positions:
Acting Judge, Supreme Court of Appeal: 2008
Judge of Appeal, Supreme Court of Appeal: 2009

Steven Majiedt
Born: 18 December 1960, Kenhardt, Northern Cape
Education: LLB (1983) University of the Western Cape
Previous positions:
Judge, High Court, Kimberley: 2000 – 2010
Judge of Appeal, Supreme Court of Appeal: December 2010

Elizabeth Baartman (Acting judge)
Education: LLB (1986) University of the Western Cape
Previous positions:
Head of Cape Town and Family and Divorce Court
Judge, Western Cape High Court
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: Myster on December 03, 2015, 04:22:12 PM
Pistorius walked away too easily with the earlier decision, but he's stumped by this one.  Congrats to Karma.  8@??)(

It beggars belief how the original judge could get it so wrong!  ?8)@)-)
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: Anna on December 03, 2015, 05:07:54 PM
Justice at last for Reeva and her family

excerpt:
Reeva Steenkamp's mother says a South African court has secured "justice" after Oscar Pistorius was convicted of murdering her daughter.


Speaking to Sky News, June Steenkamp said the change of Pistorius' conviction from manslaughter to murder meant her family have obtained "respect for Reeva" and "respect for women".

An appeal judge said last year's verdict was "confusing and flawed" and the athlete will now be re-sentenced by the original court and will almost certainly go back to jail.

"We've got justice, we've got respect for Reeva, we've got respect for women," Ms Steenkamp said.


June Steenkamp
Reeva Steenkamp's mother closed her eyes when the decision was read out

(http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2015/12/3/433643/default/v3/cegrab-20151203-084053-0-1-589x442.jpg)

"I really don't care how long it is, as long as he pays for what he's done and takes responsibility for what happened. He's got to take responsibility for what he's done," said June Steenkamp.

A murder conviction carries a much heftier sentence: a minimum of 15 years in South Africa.


http://news.sky.com/story/1599031/june-steenkamp-weve-got-justice-for-reeva
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: mercury on December 03, 2015, 10:19:31 PM
Well well!

In a way I feel sorry for him for his disability and lost well worked for career, but it was he got his talon bullets gun out, it was him to decided to shoot at an unknown person at best with the aim to kill when not under attack, at worst knew it was Reeva and murdered her, he is now paying the price.....still, if he gets out in six years he still has most of his life ahead of him, Reeva is being eaten by worms because of him....good result either way
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: John on December 05, 2015, 01:39:35 PM
According to reports they have raised a warrant for his arrest to be executed next week so could he won't have a last Christmas and New Year as a free man after all.  He deserves neither empathy or sympathy for what he did to Reeva so must face the consequences of his own actions.  There is always parole at the halfway mark so potentially he is looking at five to ten years banged up depending on how generous the judge feels.
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: mercury on December 05, 2015, 11:32:17 PM
My sentiments were to his good life beforehand and but he ruined it...yes, ALL his own fault...and I dont give a shit  about him  he was a lying little b........ in court and his ridiculous  lawyer a bgger one..
you do get s..m of the earth barristers, like in ths case and casey anthonys case...the better lawyer lost there ...it means s..mbags win alot of the time

It means people who are "supposed to respect the law" do the opposite...


Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: Jean-Pierre on December 10, 2015, 11:22:10 AM
My sentiments were to his good life beforehand and but he ruined it...yes, ALL his own fault...and I dont give a shit  about him  he was a lying little b........ in court and his ridiculous  lawyer a bgger one..
you do get s..m of the earth barristers, like in ths case and casey anthonys case...the better lawyer lost there ...it means s..mbags win alot of the time

It means people who are "supposed to respect the law" do the opposite...

A Justice system requires that the defendant is entitled to defend himself against a charge, and is is the defense team's job to  to defend the case to the best of their ability.  It is for the prosecution to prosecute the case, and the deck is loaded in their favour.   

If they are unable to make their case, then the defendant goes free.  Its not a case of "s..m of the earth barristers" they are just doing their job - its a case of inadequate prosecution.     
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: mercury on December 11, 2015, 08:31:23 PM
A Justice system requires that the defendant is entitled to defend himself against a charge, and is is the defense team's job to  to defend the case to the best of their ability.  It is for the prosecution to prosecute the case, and the deck is loaded in their favour.   

If they are unable to make their case, then the defendant goes free.  Its not a case of "s..m of the earth barristers" they are just doing their job - its a case of inadequate prosecution.   


Or errors made by the judge in this case as pronounced! By the supreme court!

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/oscar-pistorius-appeal-justice-eric-leachs-judgement-full-1531812

No one should ever defend s..m of the earth barristers just because "theyre doing their job" without denouncing what ther job actually IS...ie defending the s..m of the earth, honestly! Oh hang on, maybe that makes them saintly in a way...yeah...trying to redeem s..m, I get it now, yes, hypotheticallly they might be viewed as good people
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: Jean-Pierre on December 13, 2015, 11:24:14 AM

Or errors made by the judge in this case as pronounced! By the supreme court!

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/oscar-pistorius-appeal-justice-eric-leachs-judgement-full-1531812

No one should ever defend s..m of the earth barristers just because "theyre doing their job" without denouncing what ther job actually IS...ie defending the s..m of the earth, honestly! Oh hang on, maybe that makes them saintly in a way...yeah...trying to redeem s..m, I get it now, yes, hypotheticallly they might be viewed as good people

So do you think that "s..m of the earth" should not have the right to be represented in court?

And who decides whether a defendant is "s..m of the earth" or "an innocent victim of a police fit up"?   

You need to think this one through. 
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: mercury on December 13, 2015, 08:50:11 PM
So do you think that "s..m of the earth" should not have the right to be represented in court?

And who decides whether a defendant is "s..m of the earth" or "an innocent victim of a police fit up"?   

You need to think this one through.

I dont need to think anything through...lawyers who defend culprits, as they do all the time, knowingly and  disingenuously, must be s..m of the earth

I did not say anyone  should be denied a defence....but a culprits defence when turned into "it wasnt me" when it was, is no defence, it is a lie

And as the supreme court has ruled here, pistorius was a bad witness and the judge was wrong...well, we all knew that anyway, he knowingly s hot his girlfriend...he is a murderer....and it is now confirmed....


Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: Jean-Pierre on December 14, 2015, 05:35:00 PM
I dont need to think anything through...lawyers who defend culprits, as they do all the time, knowingly and  disingenuously, must be s..m of the earth

I did not say anyone  should be denied a defence....but a culprits defence when turned into "it wasnt me" when it was, is no defence, it is a lie

And as the supreme court has ruled here, pistorius was a bad witness and the judge was wrong...well, we all knew that anyway, he knowingly s hot his girlfriend...he is a murderer....and it is now confirmed....

You are directing your ire in the wrong direction.  Its for the Prosecution to make their case sufficently well that the court will be able to judge the case. 

The defense role is to, well.... defend. 

If the prosecution cannot make their case, then that is not the fault of the defense. 
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: mercury on December 18, 2015, 08:39:54 PM
You are directing your ire in the wrong direction.  Its for the Prosecution to make their case sufficently well that the court will be able to judge the case. 

The defense role is to, well.... defend. 

If the prosecution cannot make their case, then that is not the fault of the defense.

Your first point is wrong in this case as its been decreed it wasnt judged well, not that the prosecution did not make a good enough case, indeed, it must have made a very strong case for the judge to be overruled and confirm the prosecutions line of murder

And yes, the defense role is to defend....but to use dirty tactics and lies whendefending is, well, indefensible ...after all arent all barristers after truth and justice?


Snort

Sorry, maybe Roux believed Oscar...yeah that must be his defense
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: John on January 08, 2016, 10:11:44 PM
Does anyone else think this is a friggin farce?


Oscar Pistorius: why athlete has been granted bail

(http://cdn2.theweek.co.uk/sites/theweek/themes/theweek/logo.png)

08 December 2015

Oscar Pistorius has been released on bail until he returns to court in April next year.

The athlete's conviction for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was last week changed from culpable homicide to murder.

Today, his defence lawyer Barry Roux revealed that an application for leave to appeal would be brought to the Constitutional Court.

He requested that Pistorius remains at the home of his uncle, Arnold Pistorius, until the appeal or – if the appeal is unsuccessful – he returns to the High Court for sentencing.

Judge Aubrey Ledwaba agreed to release Pistorius on bail of 10,000 rand (around £460) and postponed the case until 18 April 2016.

Ledwaba said Pistorius had proven that he is not a flight risk and had kept his bail conditions, even when facing possible life imprisonment, when charged with premeditated murder before and during his original trial.

Pistorius will return to his uncle's house but must not leave the district of Tshwane and must surrender his passport. The athlete will be electronically tagged and must submit travel plans to his investigating officer.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel did not oppose bail, but argued that Pistorius needed 24/7 monitoring now that he has been convicted of murder. "We feel strongly that he should not leave the house at any time," he said.

However, the judge said this was not in the interests of justice. Pistorius will therefore be able to leave the house every day between 7am and midday and can travel within a 20km radius of his uncle's home.


Pistorius was present in court, but spoke only to confirm that the affidavit was in his name, reports The Guardian.

Defence lawyer Roux told the court that Pistorius could no longer afford the much higher bail of one million rand, initially agreed when Pistorius was first released after Steenkamp's death in February 2013. The 10,000 rand must be paid by this Friday.

http://www.theweek.co.uk/oscar-pistorius/53387/oscar-pistorius-why-athlete-has-been-granted-bail
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: mercury on January 11, 2016, 09:23:53 PM
I suppose hes not a danger to anyone anymore and soon he will be serving a few years, he was SAs national hero for some years sportwise, he is disabled, it was a crime of passion ,  I suppose it was a decision borne of compassion though the harsh sentence is due...quite a good balance really

The farce will have been if he was set free after a few months in jail for ahootng ha girlfriends brains out...in the usa you can get 20 years for not even klling someone
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: Vicky on February 26, 2016, 06:54:50 PM
The original decision was bloody ridiculous. His story had so many holes and I cannot believe anyone could possibly believe he did not know who he was shooting at anyway. Honestly...
Title: Re: Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp
Post by: Angelo222 on February 26, 2016, 10:40:00 PM
The original decision was bloody ridiculous. His story had so many holes and I cannot believe anyone could possibly believe he did not know who he was shooting at anyway. Honestly...

I have always said the same thing.  Pistorius knew what he was doing and hopefully now he will be convicted of cold blooded murder.