Hello, all! Jumping in with a few questions/comments, myself.... If anyone has any answers to my questions, I'd appreciate your insights.
Respectfully "snipped" for space....
Col.Mustard: some great insights & food for thought. Let me just throw in "my 2 cents" on a couple of the topics you've mentioned....
1. VIEWING THE HOME: Although she likely would be interested in viewing location, as it makes it that much easier to visualize details as laid out by both sides, I don't believe a judge would request that. She would be confident making a ruling based on 3+ mo of detailed testimony & exhibits and how the laws apply to those circumstances and actions, IMO.
3. REEVA DOWNSTAIRS: I can't help but think if the argument took place throughout the house, both downstairs & upstairs (which I believe it did) and lasted for an hour or possibly longer (which I also believe it did, i.e. - neighbor covering head with pillow to try and block out loud arguing) - then I can't help but believe OP had his prothesis on. He seemed to wear them, except when in bed, always. And even if he was in bed & argument erupted later, I think before going downstairs on slippery tiled steps and before continuing an argument wi Reeva, he would have taken 30sec & put them on. His ego & personality (whether argument stayed in bedroom or not) would not let him fight wi RS his tall, beautiful model girlfriend for an hour while running up and down stairs or around house on his stumps. Mentally he would feel at a disadvantage on his stumps, less control, etc - even though RS would not necessarily perceive it that way, but he himself would. IMO. When discussion turns to location of argument, I can't help but think he had prothesis on. I believe neighbors heard different portions of their argument based on where in the house OP & RS were at the time. The Stipps heard what they did because the open doors of the balcony faced their bedroom balcony and there wasn't another home in the way at the time. While the neighbor that heard the arguing earlier, approx 2am, may have been because they were in the kitchen or downstairs at the time. (I realize bullet holes lower & there's no validity to my belief that OP wearing prothesis. I believe there's an explanation for it...I just have absolutely no idea what it is. Haha. )
5. OP passive/aggressive & immature....yes & yes.
I don't have a clue what sparked their argument. Using info we now know about OP and what many people have come forward and shared about him over the years...it could have started over some insignificant issue and escalated from there. Below I've listed a couple of things I feel may have been in place that night:
A) OP was in a really foul mood. Sounds like his financial appt (? i may be wrong abt it being a financial appt) that morning went poorly. RS was texting him uplifting thoughts, cheering him up, etc. reminding him of all the "blessings" in his life he should focus on. OP & bad news, do not mix well for those around him.
B) RS made an attempt to get dressed so she could leave. Her bag and all it's items were so tidy & neat. This is not a person who would leave jeans on the floor with the pant legs partially turned inside out, and tossed on the floor between foot of bed & stereo & balcony. No way. She seemed liked she bent over backwards walking on eggshells during this relationship with OP. making sure he was happy, pleasing him, not confrontational, and very thoughtful. Based on this insight - no way would she throw her pants on the floor, half inside out. And the rest of her items folded neatly and placed all together on couch in her bag. I absolutely do not buy that. My guess is they got yanked out of her hand while she was getting them & telling OP she was going to leave.
C) As the argument escalates he yells the words he stated in court, but not at any intruder, at RS. Reason he broke down (for real) so badly in the courtroom - because he was reliving his out of control rant at Reeva, screaming at her to GET THE f#%! OUT OF MY HOUSE.... At this point, RS is now scared to death (even if no gun has entered the picture yet).
With regard to the cricket bat...I think the WS poster with the BAT-SHOOT-KICK theory is absolutely correct. Maybe 2 or 3 strikes to scare RS in bathroom earlier, but panel not all the way out, just damaged. But the 1st sounds heard had to have been OP striking something. Maybe one strike with bat was the broken tiles or metal plate near tub that was dented in. There are so many unaccounted for "strange" out of the norm issues that the defense & state just seem to gloss over....broken tiles, holes in bedroom door, Frank in house while argument happening & outside & dressed when everyone arriving. If he didn't hear anything, why was he up, outside & dressed before police get there? Just so weird that this fact is not touched on, . . . by anyone.
D) OP never considered for a second, that this "beloved hero & idol" of South Africa (as well as many other counties around the world) would simply not just walk away from this murder and be believed 100%, based on his explanation. Perhaps even comforted with sympathy for the traumatic event that unfolded and the pain & heartache he was going through as a result of his lost loved one.
...anyway, my "2 cents" on those couple of items.
