Two points in reply. First about that poor duck. I saw the duck on the road in front of me. It was too dark out to identify it as a duck, and it was on a major thoroughfare at a beach resort. I thought I was seeing a bird in the road, and that it would fly away as I approached it. It didn't.
My interpretation of what I thought I saw was reasonable. Had I been 100% diligent, though, I could have changed lanes and avoided the duck entirely. There were no other cars on the riad , so that would have been a safe thing to do. I made a mistake in assessing the situation and the duck is dead.
Before anyone goes there, no I am not comparing or equating the death of a duck to Reeva's death. I am saying that it is very human to misjudge a situation and have a bad outcome result from that lapse.
Understand that I don't have emotional investment in this case at all. Until a few weeks ago I had never heard of either OP or Reeva. From what I have learned about OP I am quite sure I would not like him personally, even before consideration of this killing. I don't like guns, I don't like arrogance, I would never tolerate a boyfriend telling me how to behave, and I am very much not a "pleaser, " just for starters.
My dislike doesn't enter into how I look at this case. What's important about assessing OP's personality and temperament is to understand who was there that night. Would I grab a gun first and head for the danger? Absolutely not. Would my hubby? No. But what you or I or my husband would do is irrelevant . The two germaine questions here , imo, are:
1. Is it reasonable to believe that OP acted as he says he did?
2. If his story is true, is what he did reasonable and within the law?
Staying on the this one point only...what happened after the hearing of an intruder or not...
1. OP has a track record of hearing noises at night in his very secure house and assuming intruders.
2. OP relies on guns to make him feel safe.
3. OP feels very confident in his ability to use guns.
4. OP seems to be not a particularly gifted analytical thinker, shall we say.
5. OP is selfish, self-absorbed, cocky, has a sense of entitlement, and has a demonstrable problem with anger management.
6. IMO, whatever feelings OP have towards Reeva, the woman he says he thinks is in his bed is not his wife, not the love of his life, not even his best girlfriend. If you are in a loving marriage you know what I'm saying....I would literally die trying to save my Hubby's life or my son's and my first instinct in an unknown and seemingly dangerous situation would be to protect them first.
OP's not making sure of where Reeva was is entirely in character, as was reaching for the gun , as was running towards the danger, as was screaming in rage when he thought someone had dared violate him and his house.
But in all honesty, I did come into this not knowing much and really hoping her killing hadn't been deliberate - when someone is murdered by one they love and trust it truly is heartbreaking. I wanted her shooting to be 'accidental' but the only way I can get there, based on what's been presented so far, is by standing on my head, blind-folding myself, putting my fingers in my ears, suspending all logic and rationality, and inventing unrealistic, fanciful scenarios.
