Oscar Pistorius - Discussion Thread #69 *Appeal Verdict*

[Interested Bystander]

I am typically as cyclical as they come, but I truly don't see any ulterior motive behind this documentary and I don't believe for a second that OP or his family have a thing to do with it.

This guy Botha is the CEO of the production company doing the film. I googled the company and they have produced tons of documentaries and short films, some of which have won awards. On their website under "past productions," they list:

Live broadcast production: Oscar Pistorius Trial Channel 199 March to May 2014: Midday and Afternoon Show
http://blue-marble.co.za/productions/past-roductions/

They produced The Lunch Time Show and The Afternoon Show, which recapped and analyzed court highlights each day. As the producer of these two trial-dedicated live shows, they know first hand the high level of world-wide public interest this case drew. And since they were directly involved with the case from day one, they were able to gather information along the way to eventually use for this documentary. I think it's as simple as that. High public interest + somewhat behind the scenes info = opportunity to make a film.

As for "why now?" ... The simple answer is because the trial is over. The evidence is in. The appeal is irrelevant to the evidence this documentary appears to be focusing on. So is the verdict. I would bet that regardless of the verdict outcome and whether or not either side appealed, this documentary was intended to be made. MANY documentaries have been made after the conclusion of high profile cases...OJ Simpson, Phil Spector, Drew Peterson, Jodi Arias, etc etc etc.

And apparently Kickstarter has been successfully used to fund numerous film and video projects. In 2012, documentaries alone received $42 million in pledges. Many of those projects were featured in film festivals and a few even earned Academy Award nominations. (http://www.pbs.org/pov/blog/news/2013/01/kickstarter-tips-from-three-successful-2012-doc-campaigns/) So I'm assuming that since this case had so much public interest, they anticipated similar interest in their film and hoped the public would help fund it.

You may well be right. Mainly his work has been travelogues and of no real import. Channel 199 (Carte Blanche) was indeed a break from the norm.

The trial is not yet over, although you have suggested otherwise. There is still the appeal and/or sentencing. I think a fitting time for a film of this type should be well after the judicial conclusion but that is only my opinion.

I am still very unsure this film will be objective but time will tell, assuming that it is ever made because there seems to be no interest in his funding appeal. I really don't think AP is financially involved. That would cast a huge doubt over his integrity which has already been tested to breaking point and beyond.

As ever, I am more than happy to be proved wrong. IMO this guy is "too close" to the story.

 

[JudgeJudi]

HAPPY NEW YEAR FELLOW SLEUTHERS

Wishing everyone good health, a large serving of happiness and much prosperity for 2016​

 

[Deleted member 102539]

My sparkling wine still has to wait for 9 h 13 min ... my Chicken salad not that long ... I wish the very best for 2016 already now!

:fireworks::newyear::fireworks2:

 

[Deleted member 102539]

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/2015-the-year-things-fell-in-sa-20151231

2015: The year things fell in SA

June 18: Zuma announces Shaun Abrahams as new National Prosecuting Authority head, replacing Mxolisi Nxasana.

June 25: Zuma releases the Farlam Commission of Inquiry's report into the Marikana shooting. It absolves senior government leaders of all responsibility, but recommends an inquiry into police commissioner Riah Phiyega's fitness to hold office.


August 19: Justice Minister Michael Masutha says Oscar Pistorius will not be released from jail on Friday, August 21. He says the parole board acted prematurely when it decided in June that he could be released into correctional supervision before he had served out 10 months (one sixth) of his five-year sentence for killing Reeva Steenkamp.


October 11: The African National Congress (ANC) announces that its national general council had resolved that South Africa should withdraw from the International Criminal Court.

October 14: A pedestrian bridge under construction collapses on the M1 highway at Grayston Drive. Two people are killed and 21 injured.

- National police commissioner Riah Phiyega is suspended.

December 3: The Supreme Court of Appeal upholds the State's appeal against Oscar Pistorius's culpable homicide conviction. He is found guilty of murder. He subsequently announces he will take his case to the Constitutional Court.

December 9: Zuma replaces Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene with ANC MP and former Merafong mayor David van Rooyen. Following a public outcry and the rand plummeting to R16 to the US dollar, he is replaced by former finance minister Pravin Gordhan on December 13, leaving Van Rooyen with the dubious honour of the shortest term served by a SA finance minister.

 

[foxbluff]

I wonder if OP is eating a particular food today in order to have Good Luck for the rest of the New Year? In my "part of the woods" we eat Black-Eyed Peas and Turnip Greens on New Year's Day.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Just before we return to all things Oscar, I just saw this 1:29 video of the very end of our Sydney NYE celebrations and thought you might like to see it. Just beautiful.

[video=youtube;tLW2i3kUjg0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLW2i3kUjg0[/video]

 

[Zuri]

OT: So glad Zweibel has recently posted on another thread and hopefully will join us here soon! Welcome back Zweibel! We missed you!

 

[Susza]

OT: So glad Zweibel has recently posted on another thread and hopefully will join us here soon! Welcome back Zweibel! We missed you!

Oh, this are great news. Thank you very much, Zuri!

 

[Deleted member 102539]

Oh, this are great news. Thank you very much, Zuri!

:tears::dramaqueen::tears::dramaqueen: Zwiebel didn't sent a private message to me (answer), but I'm glad, she is alive! :happydance::loveyou:


(Maybe she is sick and tired of Oscar's theatre which will never end, it seems?)

 

[Interested Bystander]

:tears::dramaqueen::tears::dramaqueen: Zwiebel didn't sent a private message to me (answer), but I'm glad, she is alive! :happydance::loveyou:

(Maybe she is sick and tired of Oscar's theatre which will never end, it seems?)

From her post it looks as though either she may have been v.poorly. If not her, maybe Mr Z. Whichever, I hope all is well now. Great news that she is back on board. When she has time it would be v. interesting to hear what she has to say about the OP case.

 

[Deleted member 102539]

Oscar Pistorius/Official Website of The Blade Runner

http://oscarpistorius.com/

Only the first site is available. Last paragraph:

“We have every confidence as a family that when the world has heard the full evidence * that this will prove to be a terrible and tragic accident which has changed many lives forever. We are praying for everyone touched by this tragedy.”

* The world never will hear the full evidence, so the world may believe in murder and no "proven" tragic accident. Even with more evidence than before (ie see JJ and Mr Fossil) all is pointing to MURDER, IMO.

 

[Cherwell]

“We have every confidence as a family that when the world has heard the full evidence that this will prove to be a terrible and tragic accident which has changed many lives forever. We are praying for everyone touched by this tragedy.”

OK, so when are we going to hear from Frank?

 

[sleuth-d-]

i agree, Frank would make a v interesting interview.
also this may be of interest…

https://publishizer.com/to-kill-a-fragile-rose-the-states-case-against-oscar-leonard-carl-pistorius/

"Chapter Six – The other person at the Pistorius residence on the night of the murder, Frank Chiziweni and his heard-no-evil, saw-no-evil statement. The error of not calling him not testify."

75% complete…

 

[soozieqtips]

Didn't Frank initially say he would talk and then later change his mind? So was he going to talk about what he heard before the P's took control of the situation? I don't think there are many people who believe it's remotely possible that he slept through all the screaming and gunshots. However, I can see him being totally cowed by the 'important' P's and not having the courage to come forward and destroy his employer's lies once and for all.

 

[44ALLAN]

BIB, a senior crime scene photographer whose job it is to visually capture the scene and who has been to probably hundreds of scenes in his career was so traumatised that he had to retire.

Does anyone doubt that?

Then why is it so hard to accept that Oscar is also traumatized and perhaps his emotions in court were raw emotions that were coming to the surface?

I doubt that........and the reason is because several witnesses heard Reeva screaming before he executed her.
He knew it was her he was shooting it's so obvious from the evidence.
He's only traumatised because he had to be fgs !

 

[Interested Bystander]

Didn't Frank initially say he would talk and then later change his mind? So was he going to talk about what he heard before the P's took control of the situation? I don't think there are many people who believe it's remotely possible that he slept through all the screaming and gunshots. However, I can see him being totally cowed by the 'important' P's and not having the courage to come forward and destroy his employer's lies once and for all.

You are right and the police did say that they could not understand how he "did not hear anything". Frank should write a book (maybe using a ghostwriter). It would be a best seller. He must have so much he could say. I can only think that the P's wield enormous influence over this poor man, possibly financially, or that he is in fear of unjust retribution for telling the truth. Maybe, one day, he will summon up the courage to spill the beans. As he was going to testify to begin with, that alone suggests there was pressure brought to bear for him not to do so. I am one who thinks the PT should have put him on the stand. I am sure Nel could have tied him up in knots and the truth would have emerged.

 

[soozieqtips]

You are right and the police did say that they could not understand how he "did not hear anything". Frank should write a book (maybe using a ghostwriter). It would be a best seller. He must have so much he could say. I can only think that the P's wield enormous influence over this poor man, possibly financially, or that he is in fear of unjust retribution for telling the truth. Maybe, one day, he will summon up the courage to spill the beans. As he was going to testify to begin with, that alone suggests there was pressure brought to bear for him not to do so. I am one who thinks the PT should have put him on the stand. I am sure Nel could have tied him up in knots and the truth would have emerged.

BIB - I think it's more likely to be that one. We've already seen the controlling and dismissive way OP treated Frank (in front of people) and he has a large and influential family who can help pile on the pressure. Sadly, I don't think Frank will ever feel able to come clean. It's a helluva thing to live with on your conscience.

 

[Cherwell]

BIB - I think it's more likely to be that one. We've already seen the controlling and dismissive way OP treated Frank (in front of people) and he has a large and influential family who can help pile on the pressure. Sadly, I don't think Frank will ever feel able to come clean. It's a helluva thing to live with on your conscience.

Hence the sarcasm in my post 152.

 

[Fuskier]

Well it seems obvious now, that is, Frank most likely heard what was going on in that household that night. He was already standing outside when the first help arrived. Now, as a witness (eye/ear or both) if he had something to say which would 'help' the perpetrator - the P family would have ensured that he was on the stand.

So, its safe to speculate that what he witnessed (eye/ear or both) would not 'assist' the perpetrator and the P family have ensured that he not speak. My opinion only.

 

[Cherwell]

Well it seems obvious now, that is, Frank most likely heard what was going on in that household that night. He was already standing outside when the first help arrived. Now, as a witness (eye/ear or both) if he had something to say which would 'help' the perpetrator - the P family would have ensured that he was on the stand.

So, its safe to speculate that what he witnessed (eye/ear or both) would not 'assist' the perpetrator and the P family have ensured that he not speak. My opinion only.