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

[Brietta]

Difficult to know what would happen. He has a vicious temper and goes into a rage; in my opinion that makes him a nasty bit of work but not mentally ill.

I agree with most of that ... but I think he is insane or suffering from some condition that would allow him to do what he did.

I have no sympathy for him at all ... only for the life he has taken and the lives he has ruined.

[Wonderfulspam]

I agree with most of that ... but I think he is insane or suffering from some condition that would allow him to do what he did.

I have no sympathy for him at all ... only for the life he has taken and the lives he has ruined.

There was a pause between the first shot which hit her in the hip & the remaining 3 shots.

She screamed in agony, no doubt, when that bullet hit her, it shattered her hip.

She fell on top of the magazine rack, he aimed towards it.

She had time to put her hands up in a defensive position when he then amputated her arm and stuck one in her head.

Evil c..t.

[Tim Invictus]

Anything less than 20 years actual prison time will be a travesty of justice. Personally I would give him 35 years.

I am still confident justice will be done. The prosecution has been compelling and the defence did not make the slightest dent in the case! OP himself was a terrible witness as were his so called experts!

I hope I am right to be optimistic.

[Anna]

Difficult to know what would happen. He has a vicious temper and goes into a rage; in my opinion that makes him a nasty bit of work but not mentally ill.

I agree Tim, but no doubt the legal terms will be very different.
If it is deemed a mental illness, it could cover every illegal action he has committed................

1.He  purchased an illegal gun .
Was he suffering Anxiety disorder then?

2. He purchased illegal Ammo.
Was he suffering Anxiety disorder then?

3. He kept the illegal gun loaded under his bed.
Was he suffering Anxiety disorder then?

So does the above not prove that he intended to use that gun ,if necessary? and is it not a premeditated measure against intruders ? How could that be deemed accidental?


Or have I totally misunderstood the charges and evidence?

[Tim Invictus]

I agree Tim, but no doubt the legal terms will be very different.
If it is deemed a mental illness, it could cover every illegal action he has committed................

1.He  purchased an illegal gun .
Was he suffering Anxiety disorder then?

2. He purchased illegal Ammo.
Was he suffering Anxiety disorder then?

3. He kept the illegal gun loaded under his bed.
Was he suffering Anxiety disorder then?

So does the above not prove that he intended to use that gun ,if necessary? and is it not a premeditated measure against intruders ? How could that be deemed accidental?


Or have I totally misunderstood the charges and evidence?

The pistol was held legally, Anna. The ammo for it, though disgustingly lethal, was legal too. He had ammo in his safe that he was not licensed for so that was held illegally.

[Anna]

The pistol was held legally, Anna. The ammo for it, though disgustingly lethal, was legal too. He had ammo in his safe that he was not licensed for so that was held illegally.

Thank you Tim
  I thought that I read somewhere, that the gun and bullets were banned a long time ago.
Is it legal in SA to keep a loaded gun by your bed?

Aah this is what I misread ...

Oscar Pistorius pleaded not guilty on charges laid against him regarding the murder of his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.He also pleaded not guilty to two charges relating to the discharge of a firearm in a public place and one charge of the illegal possession of ammunition.



picci added

[John]

Does anyone think that this is all going to end up in a soft option?  A few months in some sort of institution and out he will come, a reformed character.

[Tim Invictus]

Does anyone think that this is all going to end up in a soft option?  A few months in some sort of institution and out he will come, a reformed character.

I don't John. I think OP's sentence will be harsh. The black judge slapping down the Boer sporting hero!

[Wonderfulspam]

Check out Oscar's official website.

http://oscarpistorius.com/

No pictures of Reeva I see.

I wonder if his uncle & co , having sat through all the evidence thus far, still have 'every confidence as a family that when the world has heard the full evidence that this will prove to be a terrible and tragic accident'.

I see he has messages of support from people who believe him. Jeeesus wept, who are these people?

[Brietta]

Does anyone think that this is all going to end up in a soft option?  A few months in some sort of institution and out he will come, a reformed character.

I think he will 'do time' although perhaps not in prison and certainly not for the length of time he should.  I think the prosecution have made such a good job of it that it could not be otherwise.  The case for the defence was mince, probably because IMO there is no defence.

IMO "m'lady" is nobody's fool ... I think she will stick to the letter of the law as she has been at pains to do throughout the trial ... if she has left grounds for appeal I think they will be hard to find.

I sincerely hope there is no soft option for him ... he really needs to be seen to pay for what he has done.

[John]

The trial recommences after a 4-week break to allow for psychiatric testing of the defendant.

Monday, 30 June 2014 - Session 1

Monday, 30 June 2014 - Session 2

Monday, 30 June 2014 - Session 3

Monday, 30 June 2014 - Session 4

[John]

Tuesday, 1 July 2014 - Session 1

Tuesday, 1 July 2014 - Session 2

Tuesday, 1 July 2014 - Session 3

[John]

Wednesday, 2 July 2014 - Session 1

Wednesday, 2 July 2014 - Session 2

Wednesday, 2 July 2014 - Session 3

Wednesday, 2 July 2014 - Session 4

[John]

Thursday, 3 July 2014 - Session 1

Thursday, 3 July 2014 - Session 2

Thursday, 3 July 2014 - Session 3

Thursday, 3 July 2014 - Session 4

[John]

An interesting shot of the courtroom from the front.





Defence attorney Kenny Oldwage addresses the court on Thursday.