Trial Discussion Thread #21 - 14.04.09, Day 19

[Really?]

Italy would have been the same if it'd been part of the British Empire. Damn. I think my husband just scored a point somehow - time to go rub the Boston Tea Party in his face again.

Only in my house do we debate the (American) Revolutionary war...in 2014.:biggrin:

Hahaha...I'm in New Jersey, USA.....my hubs is a manc.

It is his job (lol ). To hang the stars and stripes out for the July 4th holiday.hehe

 

[Val1]

I understood that to mean he was only confirming that he had his legs ON when he used the bat. If he didn't have his legs on as suggested by the states witness(cant remember his name- the bat guy hehe) when using the bat- they wouldn't have seen a man walking in the bathroom.

I guess he wasn't paying attention to Roux's magic tricks on how you can see things differently when at different angles and heights.

 

[kaos]

I just think these adjournments and squabbling are a bit much ado about nothing.

I don't think the video proves that much. 'Zombie stopper' IMO is a clear reference to video games, the majority of which (at the moment anyway) are post-apocalyptic style games where the protagonist is, in so many words, a zombie stopper.

It's not like he shot the watermelon and said, 'Wow, I'd love to blow someone's brains out like that.'

I don't doubt that Nel will get OP to trip and stumble on various points, but this one, I'm not sure. I think he unfairly worded the question for sure.

If I was under oath and someone said 'Have you heard of a crappy before?' I'd say no. If I then saw an old video of myself saying 'I feel a bit crappy today,' I wouldn't consider myself to have lied under oath.

On the contrary, I thought it was interesting. Nel not using kid gloves and Roux trying to stamp his authority by using law book rules.

 

[jay-jay]

I just think these adjournments and squabbling are a bit much ado about nothing.

I don't think the video proves that much. 'Zombie stopper' IMO is a clear reference to video games, the majority of which (at the moment anyway) are post-apocalyptic style games where the protagonist is, in so many words, a zombie stopper.

It's not like he shot the watermelon and said, 'Wow, I'd love to blow someone's brains out like that.'

I recall words to that effect being said, actually .. depends which version of the vid you have seen as not all of them show the whole thing.

 

[Cher352]

Do any of the gun experts know if they're 0.38 calibre bullets for those rifles? I know nothing about guns really except for Clint Eastwood's magnum and that the standard issue is a 9mm.

Eastwood's was a 44 caliber magnum not a 9mm..IIRC

 

[Rumpole]

I don't even see how anyone can say he's like Juan Martinez when we've only seen him do one cross and like 10 seconds of another...

:nevermind:

Juan Martinez is clever like a fox... Nel has appeared nasty and petulant.

No doubt Nel will get OP to waver on detail... probably get him to cry... probably get him vomiting... but I don't see that helping his case. <modsnip>

 

[katydid23]

And is OP distraught?

I am not sure how OP is going to react and respond to Nel's aggressive cross. But he did not appear to be distraught nor to crumble. He seems to be meeting him head on and eye to eye. This ought to be fascinating.

 

[Val1]

Hmmm. This is character evidence, should not be used.

Wonder how m'lady sees this?

I considered the sappy shopping trip Roux was allowed to show as character evidence too but that was allowed.

 

[zwiebel]

More than once, Roux has struggled to rein his client in and stop him taking his testimony in a direction Roux doesn't want it to go, or at a time he doesn't want it to go there. He's actually had to say 'I'll stop you there'.

Roux must be very worried about his client adhering to (I'd think) the instructions he's given him not to do anything but try and answer Nel's questions.

These little signs/hints of a defendent who may think they can outhink/outtalk or outwit lawyers in court reminds me of a few others. Who share a certain personality type, if you know what I mean?

 

[Really?]

If MiLady didn't call this a official lunch break, can they still break again for lunch ?

 

[graceholl]

I recall words to that effect being said, actually .. depends which version of the vid you have seen as not all of them show the whole thing.

Can you provide a link? TIA

 

[AlwaysShocked]

"Only in my house do we debate the (American) Revolutionary war...in 2014."

BritsKate: There is a TV series on the AMC Channel called "Turn" that is based on the American Revolution. The main characters are living on Long Island, New York, the Revolution has just started and they have been forced to quarter a British soldier in their home. They are a young couple with a baby and are farmers and really don't want to get involved in any fighting. And they think the fighting will all be over in a few months.

It is a good show, especially if you know a little of the history of the Revolution. By the end of the first episode (the pilot episode) the farmer has agreed to become a spy for the Patriots against the British.

Comcast On Demand has the first season available. Don't know if it is online anywhere or not.

 

[kaos]

Eastwood's was a 44 caliber magnum not a 9mm..IIRC

I know that bit lol. I meant the police force in the USA used 9mm but did know that Eastwood's was a 44 magnum but thought the magnum bit would have signified that it was a different gun.

I asked about the 0.38 because if that ammo is being used on the video then he's also lying about keeping that ammo for somebody else.

 

[katydid23]

Juan Martinez is clever like a fox... Nel has appeared nasty and petulant.

No doubt Nel will get OP to waver on detail... probably get him to cry... probably get him vomiting... but I don't see that helping his case. <modsnip>

I am not sure that is how OP is going to respond. I think his competitive nature may kick in, and he may stand nose to nose with him, like Arias tried with Martinez.

 

[MsY]

Mornin Peeps,
Don't tell me court is adjourned already for the day??

Well, In SA we not only have a drug and alcohol problem, we also seem to have a tea one. Rooibos Tea does this to people.

 

[BritsKate]

Exactly. The rule of reciprocal discovery - gives both sides a chance to object to admission and keeps everyone from getting blindsided.

However, I understood enough to know that Nel was saying the defense "opened the door" on direct ... that it should be able to come in that way. What I missed is what Roux did on direct that made Nel make that argument. I don't know what he was basing that on.

I've poured through SA's rules of criminal procedure but can't ascertain whether they actually have reciprocal discovery or not. State's obligation on discovery is very clear - defense, not so much.

For me the most fascinating difference is that it doesn't matter legally if he intended to kill Reeva or an intruder as long as intent is proven itself. Makes a heckuva change from castle, SYG, and other domiciliary defenses with which I'm familiar.

 

[Forensics]

Barry Bateman has recapped Nel's opening questions to Pistorius...

Nel: Mr Pistorius, you were or are one of the most recognised faces in the world, do you agree?
Oscar: I agree.
Nel: You are a model for sportsmen all over the world?
Oscar: I think I was, I made a terrible mistake and&#8230;
Nel: You made a mistake?
Oscar: That's correct..
Nel: You killed a person, that's what you did, isn&#8217;t it?
Nel: You killed Reeva Steenkamp, that's what you did.
Oscar: I made a mistake.
el: You're repeating it three times. What was your mistake?
Oscar: My mistake was that I took Reeva&#8217;s life.
Nel: You killed her, you shot and killed her. Wont you take responsibility for that?
Oscar: I did.

 

[jay-jay]

Can you provide a link? TIA

Links to the vid have already been provided upthread .. they make a comparison with shooting the melon to it being softer than brains when you shoot at it.

 

[Cher352]

OT but...

Since last year I have only been able to thank one poster per page. If I try to thank another I must refresh.

Anyone else have this problem?

 

[zwiebel]

Wow, emergency! Am I right, the South Africans have missed their teabreak?

I bet they are having a sneaky cup now. I know I am.