A. When startled by a real or imagined threat, individuals have 3 possible primal non-cognitive responses : FREEZE or FLIGHT or FIGHT
B. As time elapses from the initial startle, the response abates and the cognitive brain regains control.
C. Oscar Pistorius has developed from early childhood a dominating fight response because of his vulnerability
Startle #1 - Bathroom window slams open
– OP froze in place for a moment
This reaction is consistent with a freeze response contrary to his dominating fight response
When he 'unfroze', OP was regaining his cognitive mind and his following actions clearly indicate a cognitive process.
– OP rushed as quick as he could to get his gun
– OP grabbed his gun from underneath the bed
– OP removed his gun from the holster
– OP disengaged the safety on his gun
– OP whispered to RS to get down and phone the police
– OP proceeded in the passageway to the bathroom with firearm extended in front of him
– OP shouted for the intruders to get out of his house
– OP shouted for RS to get down and phone the police
– OP stopped shouting as he approached the end of the passageway
These actions must come from a thinking mind : we find precise actions, awareness of possible threat scenarios, self-preservation tactics, etc.
A primal non-cognitive response could NOT have produced such a deliberate and reasoned succession of actions.
Startle #2 - Toilet door slams shut
– OP proceeded into the bathroom entrance pressing against the wall on the left-hand side
This confrontational act of moving towards a perceived threat is certainly consistent with a fight response.
Surprisingly and contrary to his response to the 1st startle, OP did NOT freeze at all.
The following actions seem to indicate the abatement of the primal response and the return of the cognitive mind.
– OP noticed that the bathroom window was indeed open
– OP peered around the corner to where the shower is and saw nobody
– OP retreated a step or two
– OP screamed for RS to phone the police
– OP kept pointing the firearm at the toilet door whilst keeping an eye on the window
– OP stood there for some time
These actions must come from a thinking mind : we find precise actions, awareness of possible threat scenarios, self-preservation tactics, etc.
This indicates that the fight response had indeed abated.
Interestingly, after hearing the bathroom window slam open and hearing the toilet door slam close, OP's dominating fight response ONLY takes him as far as confirming that the bathroom window is indeed open, that the toilet door is indeed closed and waiting patiently for a 3rd startle !!
Startle #3 - Sound of wood moving inside the toilet cubicle
– OP immediately fired 4 shots at the door in rapid succession
This aggressive act is surely consistent with a fight response.
Surprisingly and contrary to his reaction to the 1st startle, OP did NOT freeze at all.
OP's actions immediately after the shooting are quite surprising
– OP's ears were ringing from the gunshots
– OP was scared to retreat because he wasn’t sure if someone was on the ladder or in the toilet
OP is now even more vulnerable than before : he is on his stumps, in the dark and now he is partially deaf… the 3 startles were purely of an auditory nature… now OP could no longer rely on his hearing to perceive threats... his anxiety and fight response should now be even greater !
OP stated that he perceived further threats on a ladder and in the toilet BUT his heightened fight response does NOT make him confront those perceived threats at all !!… how is this possible ?!?
Instead, OP stated that he wanted to retreat, which would be a flight response but couldn't because he was scared, which would be a freeze response.
– OP stood in bathroom for a while
– OP kept on shouting for RS to phone the police
– OP retreated backwards to the bedroom
3 successive startles have led OP to shoot 4 times at a perceived threat but WITHOUT any confirmation or even any indication of the absence of the other perceived threats, OP consciously decides to retreat.
This indicates that the fight response has abated AND with the return of his cognitive mind, OP's choice is to retreat.
Interestingly enough, OP's cognitive mind had also returned after the 1st and 2nd startles BUT OP NEVER choose to retreat on those occasions !?!
Even if one believes every single word of Oscar's latest version of events, Oscar's actions contradict Wayne Derman's expert testimony.
Yet another Defence witness which contradicts Oscar Pistorius… at least the Defence is perfectly consistent and predictable… that's at least something, isn't it ?