Media Links **NO DISCUSSION**

[Interested Bystander]

http://www.news24.com/Multimedia/Video/SouthAfrica/STUDIO-Will-Oscar-Pistorius-testify-20140228

Short video by Booth. "Will Oscar Testify"

 

[Interested Bystander]

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013...stimony-you-cant-shoot-through-a-closed-door/

"Experts weigh in on Oscar Pistorius testimony: ‘You can’t shoot through a closed door’ "

 

[kittychi]

<modsnip>

Here is an early report stating she was wearing a nightgown.

http://www.examiner.com/article/did...steenkamp-under-the-influence-of-steroid-rage

Here is where it is reported that Botha testified she was wearing white shorts and a black top:

http://metro.co.uk/2013/02/20/oscar-pistorius-returns-to-court-as-bail-battle-intensifies-3505005/

So we have 3 different reports, but no confirmation. I tend to believe Botha's testimony.

 

[Interested Bystander]

I am not sure I have read this before but for me the article does not load/scroll easily and I may well have given up. Also I cannot cut and paste anything from the piece so I have retyped the sentence where a Medic who was on the scene stated what Reeva had been wearing at the time of her death.


http://www.scribd.com/doc/187254618...torius-and-Reeva-Steenkamp-Part-I-The-Killing

“However, what Reeva had been wearing when she was gunned down is not clear. The Medic interviewed by the Week-end Argus, who had arrived at the scene before Botha, said that Steenkemp had been wearing “a black sweat top and long pants but no shoes”.

This sounds as though she may have been in a sweat shirt and jogging bottoms at the time of her death.

No doubt all will become clear very soon.

 

[jilly]

Here's an interesting article on what the Prosecution has to prove in this case. I had read somewhere that the Defense was going to argue that Oscar was not "a reasonable person" because of his disabilities, insecurities and whatever. This article gives me hope:

Excerpts:

....In a scenario where you hear a noise behind a door and fire a shot through the closed door knowing a human being is behind it and foresee the possibility of injuring a person, you accept the risk that you might kill someone.....

On the particular facts of this case (the Pistorius case) putative private self-defence has never been successful in a South African court where the accused fired through a closed door thinking his life was in danger. In this case the door was locked, so the intruder would have had to break down the door to enter the house.

“Subjectively he could have foreseen that his life was in danger, but that is not the test. The test is, if that subjective belief was objectively reasonable and if he could have taken other preventative steps.

The law is quite clear. If you can escape the imminent danger without putting your life in danger you have to do it. If you kill a person it must be in such severe circumstances that there’s virtually no other way open to protect your life.”.....

http://citizen.co.za/129328/reasonable-reaction/

 

[Estelle]

http://www.citypress.co.za/news/oscars-vulnerability-relevant-case-says-expert/

Professor Gerhard Kemp from Stellenbosch University said the actions of the hypothetical “reasonable man” did not apply to murder charges, but they did in cases of culpable homicide.

“In the case of a murder charge, it is irrelevant whether or not the person acted ‘reasonably’. The question is: what was his intent?

Dr Ashraf Jedaar, a former state forensic psychiatrist now in private practice, said Pistorius was not a paraplegic, but “a bilateral below knee amputee with intact neurological functioning above his amputations”.

“He had adapted excellently to his disability as evidenced in his championing of the rights to compete in mainstream athletics and para-athletics alike. Is this the image of a poorly adjusted and vulnerable individual?”

 

[Estelle]

With just over 24 hours to go until Oscar Pistorius stands trial for murder his family has closed ranks with the media, saying they will be supporting him during this time.

The statement was published on the Blade Runner’s website, hours after footage of him firing the gun, which he’d apparently used to shoot Steenkamp with, at a shooting range was posted by various media.

http://ewn.co.za/2014/03/02/Oscar-Pistorius-murder-trial-24-hours-to-go

 

[Estelle]

The prosecution will try to convince the court that Pistorius is a reckless man who has a macabre fascination with weapons, while the defence will tell the story of an anxious man, traumatised by crime - a man who never forgets that he has no legs.

"There is of course his body image and self esteem. That will play a big role in the overall psychological profile," said forensic psychiatrist Tuviah Zabow.

http://www.enca.com/south-africa/oscar-man-behind-smiles-medals

 

[Estelle]

http://www.enca.com/south-africa/oscar-shooting-video-surfaces

Sky News on Friday broadcast footage of Pistorius firing a shotgun and using a pistol to shoot a watermelon, which bursts on impact. Delighted screams and laughter from unidentified people are heard in the background.

Sky News also broadcast audio of a man it says "sounds very much" like Pistorius who comments on the shattered watermelon.

"It's a lot softer than brain but... it's like a zombie stopper," the man said.

 

[Estelle]

The pair were browsing the food section just before 10:30pm on February 4 last year. Blissfully unaware of the security cameras, the pair chatted and laughed, relaxed and at ease with each other. At some point the athlete leaned over and kissed Steenkamp

http://www.enca.com/south-africa/cctv-footage-shows-oscar-reeva-love

 

[Estelle]

On Sunday rumours emerged that Pistorius has found love again, but his family said they will not be distracted by issues that have no bearing on the case.

His uncle, Arnold Pistorius, released a statement on Sunday, saying the time for public comment is over


http://www.enca.com/south-africa/oscar-man-behind-smiles-medals

 

[Estelle]

Reeva's father has not suffered second stroke.

In a statement on Friday, Steenkamp’s attorney Mike Venter said the reports were incorrect.

The lawyer said he suffered a mild stroke last month and is still recovering.

Venter did not comment further on the status of Steenkamp or his wife June

http://ewn.co.za/2014/02/28/Reevas-dad-has-not-had-second-stroke#

 

[Estelle]

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/22/world/africa/pistorius-legal-q-and-a/index.html

Very interesting article about many aspects of this case.

 

[zwiebel]

Live written updates here too. June Steenkamp 'appeared to be on the verge of tears as she entered court'.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/oscar-pistorius-trial-live-updates-3201648

 

[zwiebel]

Reeva's mom sees Oscar for the first time since he shot her daughter.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ther-says-wants-look-eyes-time-shot-dead.html

 

[Interested Bystander]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...671489/Oscar-Pistorius-murder-trial-live.html

“One colleague reports he's spoken to a criminologist who said Dr Burger's evidence did not bode well for Pistorius. "I think he's nailed in one testimony," the expert reportedly said.”

 

[zwiebel]

Concise but relevant quotes here.

http://news.sky.com/story/1219991/pistorius-trial-transcripts-live-from-court

 

[Pisto_lius]

This was reported yesterday evening via German videotext:

According to the "Sunday Times" foreign media journalists have harassed witnesses in Pistorius process.

Reporter tried to dig "dirty laundry" in the circle of relatives and friends of the witnesses, the newspaper quoted a police officer. Several prosecution witnesses, including police officers, have therefore complained about such harassment to the prosecutor.

http://www.handelsblatt.com/panoram...aengen-zeugen-vor-prozessauftakt/9559544.html
.
.

 

[zwiebel]

Dr Gerry Versveld is the surgeon who amputated Oscar's legs.

http://oscarpistorius.com/about-oscar/

And here is an article about Annemarie who claims to be his ex wife, is uncertain of her surname and was ejected from court today. I bet she'll try and get back in tomorrow.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/oscar-s-dead-mom-asked-me-to-help-him-1.1475017#.UxSxJ8u9KSM

 

[kittychi]

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/19/news/la-pistorius-charged-premeditated-murder-20130219


Nel said there was no evidence available that supported the athlete&#8217;s contention that he thought Steenkamp was a burglar and shot and killed her by mistake.

"There is no possible information to support his version that it was a burglar," Nel said.

But even if he had made that mistake, Nel argued, it would still have been a premeditated murder because he shot through the door into a tiny room, measuring no more than 16 square feet.

He said the couple had argued and that Steenkamp fled to the toilet, seven yards from the bedroom and locked herself in.

No one would fire into a room of that size hoping to merely scare off a burglar, Nel said, adding that the motive of shooting in that fashion was to kill, because there was no way for Steenkamp to escape the bullets.

"She couldn't go anywhere. You can run nowhere,&#8221; Nel said. "It must have been horrific."

Nel argued that up until the moment he shot her, Pistorius&#8217; plan was to kill Steenkamp, although afterward he might have regretted his actions.