Trial Discussion Thread #5 - 14.03.11-12, Day 7-8

[Trooper]

I must be the only person who isn't shocked by the two hits by the bat evidence. I had imagined the panels were made of plywood or composite, thus easy to knock out. I have never done it myself and it would be different if the door was solid wood.

If it was knocked out by two hits, it makes it difficult for the 4 bangs to be that of the cricket bat, as Roux insisted.

And when Roux was insisting on that, the 4 bangs couldn't be gunshot, he knew there were only 2 marks in the door consistent with a cricket bat...

sneaky ey ?

 

[sorrell skye]

I think there is every chance this guy's evidence will be disregarded as being incompetent. Such a pity. The door is the only evidence that he was on his stumps. Whilst the shots may also show this, the damage has already been done.

Let's hope the ballistics expert has done a more thorough, scientific analysis.

This dang door is key! I'm in total dismay at the cricket bat evidence.

 

[bessie]

This expert at the end of his testimony has stated in his opinion the bullets holes were already created, and then the bat was used. I think it was bat bullets and more bat.

Why will any man bend and put himself in an uncomfortable and unnatural position to break open any door when he has just moments ago fired four shots through the same door on his stumps with ease?

How will the defense explain away the wrecked plate from the bathtub, will they claim the prosecution tampered with it to implicate OP ?

Yes, I posted the quotes upstream. So that point is lost, or maybe it never was up for consideration, anyway.

What's gained? OP on his stumps using bat; "door" open for bat-bullets-bat sequence (pun intended); and as you mention, the smashed plate isn't easily explained.

 

[Interested Bystander]

Let's hope the ballistics expert has done a more thorough, scientific analysis.

This dang door is key! I'm in total dismay at the cricket bat evidence.

Yes, I confess I thought the same guy would be doing both but you are right. Perhaps all is not totally lost.

 

[jassy writer]

I am sure that just because evidence has been moved around and tested, it does not render it inadmissible - if it did then no evidence would ever end up being used in court! They obviously had to remove the door for testing and because it was a crucial piece of evidence... it's a big, heavy door and for sure, there might end up being small marks or smudges that had not been there when first photographed (and who is to say that certain marks just weren't visible on the defense's pics? )

I think the fact there are only two bat marks is indeed very significant in terms of sounds! Maybe Roux can argue that the damaged metal plate represented a test swing, which would then make three!

 

[Trooper]

Don't worry about the Judge and cricket bats.. she's seen them swung around hitting stuff , making sounds, all year, for years on her nightly news broadcast in the sports segment.. replays in slow motion.. over and over again.


SA news is like that.. so is mine.

 

[canny]

MOO[/quote]

Yes, I posted the quotes upstream. So that point is lost, or maybe it never was up for consideration, anyway.

What's gained? OP on his stumps using bat; "door" open for bat-bullets-bat sequence (pun intended); and as you mention, the smashed plate isn't easily explained.

In his affidavit he has clearly stated that he used his bat only to break open the toilet door,therefore who how and why was the plate smashed up?

 

[james83]

Alex Crawford ‏@AlexCrawfordSky 4 mins
#OscarPistorius To clarify; there're 4 holes in the door. They're all low down but spread out. There're also two police markers, much higher

 

[loohoo]

Just saw this tweet from a journalist in the court room:

Alex Crawford ‏@AlexCrawfordSky 3m
#OscarPistorius To clarify; there're 4 holes in the door. They're all low down but spread out. There're also two police markers, much higher

If all the bullet holes are low down in the door, was Reeva crouching behind the door when she was hit? She could not have been standing at her full height to have been hit in the head at the level of the bullet holes.

 

[Cher352]

In his affidavit he has clearly stated that he used his bat only to break open the toilet door,therefore who how and why was the plate smashed up?

Wonder if that pic of the tub plate taken before or after the door was removed?

I would think it would have been before but if not it could have been damage by someone clumsily maneuvering that door out of the room.

 

[james83]

Given that the bullets were fired low through the door and looking at the injuries sustained, surely the first bullet could not have struck her head unless she was cowering on the floor before he started shooting?.

 

[FrancesB]

Well, the door in court has really surprised me. That bottom panel is much lower than it looked in the leaked phots. Pistorius may well have been able to reach a key from that height, assuming the key was there to be taken, and was not hidden under Ms Steenkamp's fallen body.

I've attached a pic where I have edited the banner out that goes across the court screenshot.

 

[Cherwell]

Judge just told Roux off "That was a very long sentence'.

I bet Oscar cringed when she said that.

 

[Cherwell]

If that thing under the knob is the lock, it appears to be just a hole and not a normal lock. I do not see a knob where the door can be locked/unlocked manually.

It just looks like an ordinary keyhole to me. You put the key in, turn it, it locks/unlocks the door. Why would you need a knob as well?

 

[jassy writer]

If the shots are positioned a few inches under the door handle it would surely mean they were at hip to thigh height - first one hits her hip, by the second she has collapsed into a crouch, still with her hand defensively raised, and the subsequent ones fired at the same height hit her in the arm and head...?

 

[zwiebel]

R: Talking about a crack running from bullet hole.

Col: 'The breackage went into bullet hole - that's why I said it was the crack came after the bullet hole, or crack would have been in a straight line'.

R says that agrees with his expert's evidence. Shots first, then bat.

 

[zwiebel]

Witness has just said OP is a little bit taller than him and 'carrying a little bit less weight than me'

Cue laughter in court.

 

[zwiebel]

R showing Col photos at crime scene.

R says the photo shows the 'missing' bits of wood, I think.

 

[zwiebel]

Col: 'This is the first time I saw these photos, first time I saw these splinters of wood'.

R: 'Just unfortunate you didn't get to see these pieces."

 

[zwiebel]

Another photo

Col says he sees door and cricket bat, some pieces of wood next to it.

R: 'So you had them?'

Col: 'I did not. I must have overlooked them Milady.'