Oscar Pistorius Charged with Murder

[silverscreenselect]

This story is sad on many levels.

South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius, who won worldwide fame for competing as a double amputee, has been arrested and charged with the murder of his live-in girlfriend, an internationally famous model. She had been shot four times; a pistol owned by Pistorius (an accomplished target shooter) is the apparent murder weapon. There had been previous reports of domestic disputes between the two of them.

http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/id/ ... -steenkamp

Another hero turns out to have feet of clay.

[bazodee]

Another hero turns out to have feet of clay.

..or titanium, in this case.

[Vandal]

From Twitter:


Artie Johann ‏@DearAnyone
Oscar Pistorius will do great in jail because inmates are always fair to people who are just torso and butt.

[Vandal]

An unfortunate advertising campaign for Nike:

[Vandal]

Here's how the NY tabloids handle a murder story (from Twitter):

[littlebeast13]

Here's how the NY tabloids handle a murder story (from Twitter):

Where else can you see the words "legless" and "red sock" on the same front page.....?

lb13

[Buffacuse]

This story is sad on many levels.

South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius, who won worldwide fame for competing as a double amputee, has been arrested and charged with the murder of his live-in girlfriend, an internationally famous model. She had been shot four times; a pistol owned by Pistorius (an accomplished target shooter) is the apparent murder weapon. There had been previous reports of domestic disputes between the two of them.

http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/id/ ... -steenkamp

Another hero turns out to have feet of clay.

I'm far from naive and usually inclined to believe bad stuff in cases like this...but if she was really on the other side of his bedroom door and he didn't think she'd be home, it would be very easy to fire off four rounds from a semi-automatic pistol through a door in about a second and a half before getting a clear look at who's there. Maybe he had a few drinks, his judgment was impaired, his adrenaline was going because he thought this was a home invasion...and this poor woman thought she'd surprise him.

Mrs. Buff reminded me about a time when I surprised her when we were dating--she was in bed and I slipped into her apartment (ok, had a key...) but she was not expecting me that night. She told me--"I was terrified for a minute...and could easily have shot you."

I'm just saying--don't nail this one down yet...

[ne1410s]

Wayne LaPierre is blaming the victim.

[silverscreenselect]

I'm far from naive and usually inclined to believe bad stuff in cases like this...but if she was really on the other side of his bedroom door and he didn't think she'd be home, it would be very easy to fire off four rounds from a semi-automatic pistol through a door in about a second and a half before getting a clear look at who's there. Maybe he had a few drinks, his judgment was impaired, his adrenaline was going because he thought this was a home invasion...and this poor woman thought she'd surprise him.

Mrs. Buff reminded me about a time when I surprised her when we were dating--she was in bed and I slipped into her apartment (ok, had a key...) but she was not expecting me that night. She told me--"I was terrified for a minute...and could easily have shot you."

1) There was evidence of previous disputes between the two of them, neighbors heard arguing the night of the shooting, there was physical evidence of a struggle inside the home, and the woman was shot four times while she was hiding in a bathroom. It's not surprising that Pistorius reacted with shock and tried to revive her once he realized what he'd done. It's fairly common for spouse abusers to "lose it" and then experience remorse once they come to their senses..

2) Your story (and the version of Pistorius' story that his family and attorneys are likely to try to sell) is yet another good reason for people not to have guns in the house.

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

Cricket bats can be a gateway weapon

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more- ... bled=false

[Buffacuse]

I'm far from naive and usually inclined to believe bad stuff in cases like this...but if she was really on the other side of his bedroom door and he didn't think she'd be home, it would be very easy to fire off four rounds from a semi-automatic pistol through a door in about a second and a half before getting a clear look at who's there. Maybe he had a few drinks, his judgment was impaired, his adrenaline was going because he thought this was a home invasion...and this poor woman thought she'd surprise him.

Mrs. Buff reminded me about a time when I surprised her when we were dating--she was in bed and I slipped into her apartment (ok, had a key...) but she was not expecting me that night. She told me--"I was terrified for a minute...and could easily have shot you."

1) There was evidence of previous disputes between the two of them, neighbors heard arguing the night of the shooting, there was physical evidence of a struggle inside the home, and the woman was shot four times while she was hiding in a bathroom. It's not surprising that Pistorius reacted with shock and tried to revive her once he realized what he'd done. It's fairly common for spouse abusers to "lose it" and then experience remorse once they come to their senses..

2) Your story (and the version of Pistorius' story that his family and attorneys are likely to try to sell) is yet another good reason for people not to have guns in the house.

I was wrong. I just read a much more complete description (UK's Telegraph) of what happened and the situation is relatively unambiguous. I still don't know how South Africa defines "premeditated" since it reads like he totally flipped out (vice planned it) but in any event he is not getting out for a few decades--if at all.

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

A Lying Liars Affidavit

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/19/pi ... irlfriend/

[silverscreenselect]

A Lying Liars Affidavit

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/19/pi ... irlfriend/

I'm not an expert on South African law, but I think it's a pretty safe guess that the penalty for perjury is a lot less than the penalty for murder.

[SpacemanSpiff]

I'm far from naive and usually inclined to believe bad stuff in cases like this...but if she was really on the other side of his bedroom door and he didn't think she'd be home, it would be very easy to fire off four rounds from a semi-automatic pistol through a door in about a second and a half before getting a clear look at who's there. Maybe he had a few drinks, his judgment was impaired, his adrenaline was going because he thought this was a home invasion...and this poor woman thought she'd surprise him.

Mrs. Buff reminded me about a time when I surprised her when we were dating--she was in bed and I slipped into her apartment (ok, had a key...) but she was not expecting me that night. She told me--"I was terrified for a minute...and could easily have shot you."

1) There was evidence of previous disputes between the two of them, neighbors heard arguing the night of the shooting, there was physical evidence of a struggle inside the home, and the woman was shot four times while she was hiding in a bathroom. It's not surprising that Pistorius reacted with shock and tried to revive her once he realized what he'd done. It's fairly common for spouse abusers to "lose it" and then experience remorse once they come to their senses..

2) Your story (and the version of Pistorius' story that his family and attorneys are likely to try to sell) is yet another good reason for people not to have guns in the house.

I was wrong. I just read a much more complete description (UK's Telegraph) of what happened and the situation is relatively unambiguous. I still don't know how South Africa defines "premeditated" since it reads like he totally flipped out (vice planned it) but in any event he is not getting out for a few decades--if at all.

Somehow (if what I heard on NPR this morning is correct), the fact that he had time to put his legs on prior to shooting kind of makes it sound premeditated.

[Vandal]

Pistorius indicted, trial set for March 2014.

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Oscar Pistorius was indicted Monday on charges of murder and illegal possession of ammunition for the shooting death of the double-amputee Olympian's girlfriend on Valentine's Day.

A Pretoria court set March 3 as the trial date for Pistorius, who has said he shot Reeva Steenkamp by mistake, believing she was an intruder in his home. Prosecutors, who allege he killed her after an argument, submitted a list of more than 100 witnesses for a trial that will be followed around the world.

[Sistine Fanny]

Pistorius indicted, trial set for March 2014.

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Oscar Pistorius was indicted Monday on charges of murder and illegal possession of ammunition for the shooting death of the double-amputee Olympian's girlfriend on Valentine's Day.

A Pretoria court set March 3 as the trial date for Pistorius, who has said he shot Reeva Steenkamp by mistake, believing she was an intruder in his home. Prosecutors, who allege he killed her after an argument, submitted a list of more than 100 witnesses for a trial that will be followed around the world.

Well, it worked for Anne Woodward.......sort of.

[Vandal]

Pistorius not guilty of murder in girlfriend's death

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius was found not guilty Thursday of premeditated murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, but the judge has not ruled out a possible manslaughter conviction.

Judge Thokozile Masipa, reading a lengthy explanation of the evidence and charges, said state prosecutors failed to provde that Pistorius is guilty of either premeditated murder or second-degree murder, thus ruling out those charges.

Full story here.

[BackInTex]

I want HIS lawyer!

[Bob Juch]

The judge will continue tomorrow (she must work union hours) but indicated that he'll be found guilty of culpable homicide.

[Vandal]

Oscar Pistorius guilty of 'culpable homicide'

JOHANNESBURG — A South African judge on Friday convicted athlete Oscar Pistorius of "culpable homicide" in the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

A conviction of culpable homicide, the term for manslaughter in South Africa, carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence. Pistorius had already been cleared of murdering Steenkamp.

Full story.

[Lt Columbo]

Oscar Pistorius guilty of 'culpable homicide'

JOHANNESBURG — A South African judge on Friday convicted athlete Oscar Pistorius of "culpable homicide" in the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

A conviction of culpable homicide, the term for manslaughter in South Africa, carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence. Pistorius had already been cleared of murdering Steenkamp.

Full story.

I managed to solve three cases of Culpable homicide during my lengthy career....

[christie1111]

Oscar Pistorius guilty of 'culpable homicide'

JOHANNESBURG — A South African judge on Friday convicted athlete Oscar Pistorius of "culpable homicide" in the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

A conviction of culpable homicide, the term for manslaughter in South Africa, carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence. Pistorius had already been cleared of murdering Steenkamp.

Full story.

I managed to solve three cases of Culpable homicide during my lengthy career....

That was funny!

[silverscreenselect]

Pistorius receives the maximum sentence of five years for his conviction (he also received a suspended three-year sentence on a related weapons charge).

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ol ... /17649779/

[BackInTex]

Pistorius receives the maximum sentence of five years for his conviction (he also received a suspended three-year sentence on a related weapons charge).

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ol ... /17649779/

That seems kind of light for a maximum sentence for murder.

[Estonut]

Pistorius receives the maximum sentence of five years for his conviction (he also received a suspended three-year sentence on a related weapons charge).

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ol ... /17649779/

Where do you get that he received the maximum sentence? The article you provided disagrees (twice):

South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to prison for five years Tuesday for the 2013 killing of his girlfriend, less than half the time he could have received following his manslaughter conviction last month.

Pistorius could have received up to 15 years in prison for shooting model Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013 in his home.