Oscar Pistorius trial commences in Pretoria, South Africa. Includes Court video.

[C.Edwards]

I've been forcing myself, since the whole OP case began, to give him the benefit of the doubt as much as possible and I now find myself in a curious place, whereby I am mentally prepared to give his story a degree of plausibility. I'm not saying it's likely, but I do find myself thinking it's plausible.

The really odd thing now is that I find myself wondering if the McCann supporters feel about them the way I do about OP...? Which is that until he's convicted, he's innocent, whereas many on this thread are already talking as though he's guilty and I find that somewhat distasteful. 

I do find myself questioning whether I am right to continue to be quite so prejudiced against the McCanns as I maybe am being?  For all the lack of plausibility I give their stories, I can see a clear correlation with how those that support them must feel.

It's really weird being on this side of the fence - it's remarkably easy to excuse and accept things from OP's defence that others clearly feel are completely beyond reason or credibility.

[John]

I've been forcing myself, since the whole OP case began, to give him the benefit of the doubt as much as possible and I now find myself in a curious place, whereby I am mentally prepared to give his story a degree of plausibility. I'm not saying it's likely, but I do find myself thinking it's plausible.

The really odd thing now is that I find myself wondering if the McCann supporters feel about them the way I do about OP...? Which is that until he's convicted, he's innocent, whereas many on this thread are already talking as though he's guilty and I find that somewhat distasteful. 

I do find myself questioning whether I am right to continue to be quite so prejudiced against the McCanns as I maybe am being?  For all the lack of plausibility I give their stories, I can see a clear correlation with how those that support them must feel.

It's really weird being on this side of the fence - it's remarkably easy to excuse and accept things from OP's defence that others clearly feel are completely beyond reason or credibility.

He is guilty for sure.   Only thing the judge has to decide is guilty of what?  Stupidity or wilful intent?

[Tim Invictus]

He is guilty for sure.   Only thing the judge has to decide is guilty of what?  Stupidity or wilful intent?

Reckless homicide or premeditated murder are the choices I would say!

I have tried to watch the trial live a few times but each time soon turn off. The South African 'English' is horrible; the interpreter's voice especially is like nails down a chalk board to me.  The prosecutor is weak and boring and the defense advocate is irritating and pedantic. Add to that a judge who barely seems to be able to string a whole sentence together and has none of the authority and presence you expect from a judge in her courtroom. The final straw is the pointless "m' lady" at the end of every sentence even when 99% aren't even addressed to her!

I will just follow the highlights from now on!

[Anna]

SESSION 1 Monday 17th

SESSION  2 WON'T EMBED
link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovA-k3pO3Dk
SESSION 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-_JCifLpkI

[Mr Moderator]

Reckless homicide or premeditated murder are the choices I would say!

I have tried to watch the trial live a few times but each time soon turn off. The South African 'English' is horrible; the interpreter's voice especially is like nails down a chalk board to me.  The prosecutor is weak and boring and the defense advocate is irritating and pedantic. Add to that a judge who barely seems to be able to string a whole sentence together and has none of the authority and presence you expect from a judge in her courtroom. The final straw is the pointless "m' lady" at the end of every sentence even when 99% aren't even addressed to her!

I will just follow the highlights from now on!

He might do a deal before the end of the trial, something like reckless endangerment causing death or something equally bereft of any sense of justice for the victim of his excesses.

[colombosstogey]

IF he thought there was a burglar in the bathroom and the door was locked from the inside, I assume he shouted at whoever was in there to make them lock the door? IF the door was locked was the burglar only going to steal his hair gel.

IF the door was locked why did he need to shoot anyone? The person inside had made their own prison surely.

My husbands theory is this.

They were aruging and she ran into the toilet to get away from his temper and she locked the door.

He grabbed his cricket bat and tried to break off the lock. She was screaming and shouting at him calling him names perhaps. He lost the plot and went back and got his gun out and in sheer temper shot the door 4 times perhaps not even meaning to hit her.....

When she didnt answer him, he then got the cricket bat and this time the adrenlin and fear of what he might have done, gave him the strength to to break the door open.

The rest is history.

The thing which makes me think this could have happened is IF he thought there was a burglar in the bathroom and he shot through the door, why did he break the door down with the cricket bat? Surely he would have rang the security gate told them what happened, then go see his girlfriend and find her missing then panic. OR did he shoot the door, then go and talk to his girlfriend and find her missing and panic........

Then I think why didnt he check she was safe BEFORE he tackled the burglar.

No matter how i look at it, this was a deliberate killing with bullets meant to kill.

[Sherlock Holmes]

He might do a deal before the end of the trial, something like reckless endangerment causing death or something equally bereft of any sense of justice for the victim of his excesses.

Perhaps, but is that really going to help him in terms of sentencing?

The prison time for culpable homicide is 15 years. The gun charges he faces - for which he is certainly guilty - carry custodial sentences of their own.

So aren't we looking at a substantial prison time whatever the deal or verdict may be?

[Sherlock Holmes]

I've been forcing myself, since the whole OP case began, to give him the benefit of the doubt as much as possible and I now find myself in a curious place, whereby I am mentally prepared to give his story a degree of plausibility. I'm not saying it's likely, but I do find myself thinking it's plausible.

The really odd thing now is that I find myself wondering if the McCann supporters feel about them the way I do about OP...? Which is that until he's convicted, he's innocent, whereas many on this thread are already talking as though he's guilty and I find that somewhat distasteful. 

I do find myself questioning whether I am right to continue to be quite so prejudiced against the McCanns as I maybe am being?  For all the lack of plausibility I give their stories, I can see a clear correlation with how those that support them must feel.

It's really weird being on this side of the fence - it's remarkably easy to excuse and accept things from OP's defence that others clearly feel are completely beyond reason or credibility.

This is a very honest post, C Edwards, and much appreciated.

I too have found myself making comparisons between these two cases, radically different as they are in most ways.

One similarity however is the question of whether or not the world is being manipulated by the person / people at the centre of the accusations and events (i.e. OP / the McCanns).

For months, I have been challenging posters on the McCann thread to provide an example of a case of a person / people stringing along governments, law enforcement and courts systems, international media, not to mention their own friends and families, all to the tune of millions, because I find it extremely hard to believe the idea that the McCanns, or anyone, would go to such phenomenal efforts to perpetuate a lie, and would be able to tolerate the stresses and strains that that lie placed them under.

IF ( and we have to say ' if ' at this point) Oscar Pistorius is guilty of premeditated murder, he is doing just that, and providing us with a very good example of just what lengths a person will go to to attempt to save their reputation.

If he is indeed found guilty of premeditated murder, he will never accept the verdict - and the fight and the charade, if that is what it is, will go on and on.

[Tim Invictus]

New evidence in the OP case; there was also damage to the bedroom door and a small amount of blood spatter in the bedroom above the bed head board. Also spots of blood on the duvet! I wonder how the OP team will try and explain that? Police tampering and/or incompetence is my guess!

[Angelo222]

Appears Reeva was stood facing the toilet door when he blasted her.  Just out of curiosity has his defence team brought anything to the table to support his story or is it all going to be down to trying to discredit the cops?  Lets hope the judge isn't taken in by it.

[Anna]

Session 1 19th march

session 2

18th session 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc2C1U-s_uY

18th session 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA_pbYMP_DU

[a.baker]

Head shot was allegedly the last shot so surely she must have screamed after the first and second shots. He had to know it was Reeva. Interesting to learn that he had deleted the history on his ipad and conveniently forgot the four digit password to access his iphone messages. Are these really the actions of an innocent man? Wonder if Apple have managed to get at his messages?

[colombosstogey]

Head shot was allegedly the last shot so surely she must have screamed after the first and second shots. He had to know it was Reeva. Interesting to learn that he had deleted the history on his ipad and conveniently forgot the four digit password to access his iphone messages. Are these really the actions of an innocent man? Wonder if Apple have managed to get at his messages?

Exactly Anna. He knew damn well who was in there.

Anyway logically if the burglar had LOCKED himself in the bathroom, why did he need to shoot anyway.

[Tim Invictus]

I do not trust that judge. I think OP is going to get a compromise decision .... guilty of firearms offenses and some sort of negligent homicide verdict for the murder. 5 years in prison is my guess.

[John]

Just want to thank Anna for posting the video diaries of the trial.