Trial Discussion Thread #21 - 14.04.09, Day 19

[minor4th]

I thought OP said today that he called Netcare but doesn't remember talking to them. Is that correct? Or maybe he meant he didn't recall his side of the conversation, only theirs?

I think he did say he didn't remember all of the call but remembered they said it would be faster to drive her to the hospital

 

[minor4th]

It varies, the pressure on the trigger requires effort, you wouldn't normally fire unknowingly (as in your finger brushing the trigger by mistake).


:smile:

That's basically impossible IMO

 

[steveml]

BIB. Hum... that's funny, I don't recall having a conversation with you about a word. Please refresh my memory Steve.

The repudiated post? No?

 

[rachael123]

Yes if you were watching the trial live.

can anyone tell me where is the video from today starting after the delay so Oscar could pull himself together.

 

[Huna]

Nel is changing breeds from a Rockweiler to a Pitbull now.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...ete-in-dramatic-crossexamination-9248031.html

The photo of OP in that article...he's got such a cool, calculating look...totally doesn't match up with the 'poor me' pathetic voice he uses in court when talking to the judge...

 

[Tricia]

Websleuths friend Beth Karas and criminal defense attorney Alison Triessl will be doing a Spreecast tonight about the Pistorius trial.

Spreecast starts at 8 PM Eastern, 5 PM Pacific.

Both women offer a very interesting and unique look into this strange case. You don't want to miss what they have to say.

And they love Websleuths by the way.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH TONIGHT 8 PM EASTERN

 

[katydid23]

I honestly don't think he got anywhere with OP. His questions are all over the place and, even after clarifying them, are hard to follow. They hardly covered any ground today, though I think he had good points to make.

I think he got a lot of damaging testimony today.

He got OP to admit that he 'reworked' his 'version' of the incident.

OP admitted that much of his testimony was 'reconstructed' and not from personal memory.

OP said he never intended to kill anyone, and shot accidentally at the door.


I think a lot of potent ground was covered today. jmo :moo:

 

[04009margaret]

Interesting interview on Sky with a sports psychologist. His main point about OP, he's an athlete that's used to being in control. I see this on the stand & he's trying to take control, domineer & to have the last word & it's getting him in trouble.

 

[Gbtaketwo]

WOW a legal expert is tipping that the DT will ask the court for a postponement in the morning due to OP being emotionally unwell. They are predicting the court will have to allow it.

Has there been any updated information about this ?
TBH I wasn't expecting him to show up today .

 

[emmavoberry]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/09/pistorius-prosecutor-say-i-shot-and-killed-her.html

OP is a natural. Confronted with a close up of Reeva's head wounds, he refers to his own "torment" that night.

 

[steveml]

And before the police arrived when OP and Ms. Stander went upstairs. Wonder what all was moved around then? And how exactly can the defense prove that the police contaminated the crime scene but yet the numerous people in the home that were there for OP (Stander, Ms. Stander, sister, etc) didn't contaminate the crime scene themselves.

MOO

That's a fair point, however it's quite understandable that certain members of the public may not be too aware of this. Crime scene procedure is performed day in day out by the SAPS. The consequences of such shoddy work can be devastating.

It affects true justice for both the deceased and the accused.

 

[minor4th]

BIB. I agree but that is putting it mildly, IMO. OP was an absolute mess on the stand! I cannot see Roux and Co anticipating that meltdown. They must have Royally botched his trial preparation.

Anyway I'll bet OP comes to Court tomorrow red eyed from staying up all night memorizing scripted answers.

I think he was a mess at times also. Maybe that can be chalked up to nerves on his first day of cross examination - perhaps he'll be more settled tomorrow.

I really don't think he's going to be memorizing scripted answers - I have a feeling he cannot function that way. He may get some pointers about listening carefully and answering only the question that is asked. He needs to be reminded with some reassurance that his attorney will be able to redirect him after cross examination so he should not spend so much energy and anxiety on anticipating Nel's line of questioning and strategy.

Again, if he's telling the truth, I think he'll be fine - even if he is nervous and not so articulate. If he has fabricated his account, however, I expect him to completely crumble in such a way that it will really be obvious to everyone that he's not being honest.

 

[Really?]

Sadly in SA you'd be lucky if anyone actually answers the call to begin with.

Dang.....that is scary and sad.

:banghead:

 

[DebinGA]

Interesting interview on Sky with a sports psychologist. His main point about OP, he's an athlete that's used to being in control. I see this on the stand & he's trying to take control, domineer & to have the last word & it's getting him in trouble.

That face-off between OP and Nel today illustrates that. Nel demanded several times that OP say the words, "I killed Reeva Steenkamp" and iirc each time OP replied, "It was a mistake." Was that Roux's advice or OP's obstinacy?

 

[crasshopper]

"Websleuths friend Beth Karas and criminal defense attorney Alison Triessl will be doing a Spreecast tonight about the Pistorius trial.

Spreecast starts at 8 PM Eastern, 5 PM Pacific.
...
And they love Websleuths by the way.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH TONIGHT 8 PM EASTERN

I love Beth Karas, I watched her for years on courtTV, no one holds a candle to her. Except maybe Joey Jackson, but he often views things like the defense attorney he is ;-)

Their loss.

 

[foxbluff]

two Qs:

Am I right that today was the first day of state's cross-exam of op?

What does BIB stand for?

tia

 

[Rumpole]

This appears to be because the movement of items at the scene, and other anomalies have never really been addressed properly.
Defense have not really made such a big issue of this, but it looks like it's not going to go away.

It was quite obvious today that Nel was angling for OP to say the specific words that would enable conviction without the need for much direct evidence.

It makes me wonder, does Nel perhaps think the evidence to show OP killed Reeva knowing she was behind the door is not really that strong to stand up on it's own?

It's been quite a bizarre day today - I'm not really sure what to make of it.

IMO Getting OP to state specific examples of tampering is a part of Nels plan... to enable him to show various photos and scenes.
OBVIOUSLY Nel was primed to go on the fan's and plugs etc. He just needed to trap OP into mentioning those photos. It worked like a charm.

I am not sure if Roux is allowed to talk to OP while he is giving testimony? If he can he should advise OP to avoid the trap of mentioning specific photos.

As far as the clipper charger shown as plugged in. Be interesting to know time and date of that photo. It seems that photographers were plugging in stuff, chargers of their own etc. Who is to say they did not just plug in the clipper charger when they had finished... seeing its plug hanging about as it were. IF there is contamination by Cops then there is no certainty about detail like that.

 

[MeeBee]

That face-off between OP and Nel today illustrates that. Nel demanded several times that OP say the words, "I killed Reeva Steenkamp" and iirc each time OP replied, "It was a mistake." Was that Roux's advice or OP's obstinacy?

I don't think it was either. I think it'd be very hard to say the words, out loud, that you'd killed someone you loved, if you've done it by accident.

 

[minor4th]

And trying to digest, interpret and guess reasoning for certain questions of Nel's didn't translate to me as Oscar "covering his own arse" , protecting himself, saving his neck or being perversely egocentric.

He didn't want to be led / guided into inadvertently answering a closed question with an open/ambiguous answer, to be interpreted incorrectly, which would oppose what happened that morning.

And for good reason because that is exactly what Nel was trying to achieve.

To me Nel's questions are either so confusing or totally loaded with assumptions that it's really impossible to answer them with a simple answer. In the US a lawyer would not be allowed to ask questions that way - and Oscar would serve himself if he would regularly ask for clarification before answering a question that suggests an answer that may not be true.

 

[04009margaret]

BIB. I agree but that is putting it mildly, IMO. OP was an absolute mess on the stand! I cannot see Roux and Co anticipating that meltdown. They must have Royally botched his trial preparation.

Anyway I'll bet OP comes to Court tomorrow red eyed from staying up all night memorizing scripted answers.

He was also doing it with Roux, he had to interrupt him to stop him a few times