Pistorius is charged with he murder of his model-turned-law-school grad girlfriend Reeva Steenkemp in a wealthy gated community in Pretoria, South Africa on Valentine's day of last year.
(via http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/africa/article3688259.ece)
A Paralympic athlete, dubbed the "fastest man on no legs," Pistorius was the first amputee runner to compete in the Olympic Games in 2012. A celebrity athlete with substantial endorsements viewed by some as a national hero, it is easy to be cynical about the chances of such a well-known public figure actually being convicted.
(via http://www.enca.com/south-africa/oscar-pistorius-rise-and-fall-national-hero)
As many will recall, this high profile case gained international recognition when Pistorius fired 4 bullets from a 9mm handgun through a closed bathroom door, killing Steenkemp. Pistorius maintained that he thought he had heard an intruder and accidentally killed Steenkemp, while many believed that Pistorius had murdered Steenkemp in cold blood.
Trial is expected to take 3 weeks: however, with over a hundred witnesses waiting to be called, it is very possible the trial will run longer.
Trial is expected to take 3 weeks: however, with over a hundred witnesses waiting to be called, it is very possible the trial will run longer.
(via http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-21457880)
Notably, jury trials were abolished in South Africa in 1969. If Judge Thokozile Masipa finds Pistorius guilty of premeditated murder, South African law dictates he would serve a mandatory life sentence with a minimum of 25 years.
(via http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/04/oscar-pistorius-magistrate-warns-media)
Pistorius is also facing a firearms charge for the weapon used in Steenkamp’s killing, as well as two separate incidents in 2012. If convicted, the firearms charge carries a sentence of 15 years, and 5 years for each of the 2012 charges.
(via http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/OtherSports/2014/03/03/21506556.html)
It is also possible that If the Judge does not find Pitsorius guilty of premeditated murder, he may find Pistorius guilty of the lesser charge of “culpable homicide.” This crime is based on negligence and carries a sentence of up to 15 years.
Today, a witness testified that she heard two voices screaming at each other shortly before shots rang out. If this is indeed the truth, it would contradict Pistorius' claims. However, there are no direct witnesses to the crime: legal experts believe the state will face an uphill battle in convincing the court of criminal intent.
(via http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26386954)
Notably, this is the first trial in South Africa to allow cameras in court. In many high profile cases, the defendant faces a trial in the media before the one in court even begins. The case of a celebrated athlete who is accused of murdering their significant other and has faced a trial by media sounds strangely familiar. The nature of the crime Pistorius is accused of hauntingly evocative of the 1994 deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. While, admittedly, there are significant differences in both cases, what remains to be seen is if the effect of widespread media coverage will influence the outcome of the Pistorius case and how the public will react to the verdict. Will South Africa convict a national hero? If found innocent, will Pistorius face the same public fall-out as OJ Simpson?
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/03/world/africa/oscar-pistorius-trial/
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/03/pistorius-dock-over-girlfriend-murder-20143372942558253.html
No comments:
Post a Comment