MrMat Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 Guilty of Culpable homicide. Guilty of firing weapon in restaurant. Still facing 20 years in prison. 15 tops according to the BBC but more likely 7 - 10. The verdict leaves the disgraced sprinter facing up to 15 years in jail, although legal experts suggest seven to 10 years is more likely when sentence is passed in a couple of weeks.
featured_spectre Posted September 12, 2014 Author Posted September 12, 2014 Freed on Bail until sentencing...jesus *edit* The 15 years is for culpable homicide, there is an additional 5 years maximum for the illegal firing of the weapon.
localzuk Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 He faces 20 years tops - as 2 different crimes, 2 different sentences. So, he could get sentenced to 5 years for one and 15 for the other. Unlikely though.
Garacesh Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 He's a paralympian athlete who was in the Olympics here in 2012 so many know who is he who followed it. His partner he shot was also a model I think so also famous but not sure So basically it's nothing 'special', just 'celebrity news'? Excuse my cynicism, I just call it like I see it. Regular Joe Bloggs who shot his girlfriend in exactly the same circumstances wouldn't be televised, so I don't see why this should be.
sparkeh Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 With respect.. Who really is this guy? All I know is he's 'a paralympian who shot is girlfriend through a bathroom door'. Why has this been such a huge case with the media? Sounds like any other homicide/murder case to me. I'd never even heard his name before this case began (and admittedly I haven't really followed it much) Really surprised you have never heard of him. To many he has been an inspirational athlete, the poster boy of the Paralympic movement and the first non-abled bodied athlete to compete against able bodied athletes. His trial (and some of the allegations about this character and behaviour) has been a real fall from grace so its understandable that the world's media is more interested in this case than other homicides. Oh and yeah the victim was a famous model/presenter.
Garacesh Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 Really surprised you have never heard of him. To many he has been an inspirational athlete, the poster boy of the Paralympic movement and the first non-abled bodied athlete to compete against able bodied athletes. I don't really follow sport, the olympics, or much celeb gossip in general.
hardtailstar Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 With respect.. Who really is this guy? All I know is he's 'a paralympian who shot is girlfriend through a bathroom door'. Why has this been such a huge case with the media? Sounds like any other homicide/murder case to me. I'd never even heard his name before this case began (and admittedly I haven't really followed it much) I didnt really know who he was either but its all over the media because hes famous in sporting circles and the fact his girlfriend is dead from the shooting makes it even more of a story for the media. Once hes in prison everyone will forget about him.
Joanne Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 I've followed most of the trial and the charges seem appropriate. We will see what he gets for a sentence though... I think he might get off lightly.
TheScarfedOne Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 I didnt really know who he was either but its all over the media because hes famous in sporting circles and the fact his girlfriend is dead from the shooting makes it even more of a story for the media. Once hes in prison everyone will forget about him. Sadly, I think you are quite right...
featured_spectre Posted September 12, 2014 Author Posted September 12, 2014 This is the South African equivalent to the OJ Trial, that is why it is such a big thing. An Athlete who rose up from the paralympics to olympics and won medals for South Africa against able bodied people, was a big thing.
Gatt Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 I've followed most of the trial and the charges seem appropriate. We will see what he gets for a sentence though... I think he might get off lightly. Yeah I have a feeling about this too - the Judge has made a big deal about him being "negligent" and now granting bail - I cant see her giving him the full 15+ years But then, you really cannot tell how this will go.
FN-GM Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 Really surprised you have never heard of him. To be honest I hadn't before this...
Garacesh Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 This is the South African equivalent to the OJ Trial, that is why it is such a big thing. An Athlete who rose up from the paralympics to olympics and won medals for South Africa against able bodied people, was a big thing. Ah, that's kind of making a bit more sense. Quite the triumph, by the sounds of it. But it's still basically "He was famous. She was famous." Still, from what I know, culpable homicide sound about right. Using a gun does feel a little bit excessive as there was no immediate threat to his life. But I haven't followed the trial, I may be wrong or missing details.
Joanne Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 South Africa is a dangerous place and a lot of people have guns. It's not uncommon there. It seems as though he over-reacted to hearing a noise... allegedly.
penfold_99 Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 The justice system in South Africa has a lot of holes in it, for example they don't have anything like contempt of court which was one of the key reason they had to televise it as the press would have reported every little detail with impunity contrary to the judges wishes. This will probably make the government take notice and tighten up their laws as gun crime over there is rife.
localzuk Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 I'm surprised there's still justice systems which don't have jury trials to be honest.
strawberry Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 South Africa is a dangerous place and a lot of people have guns. It's not uncommon there. It seems as though he over-reacted to hearing a noise... allegedly. If he didn't intend to kill his Reeva ( which he didn't, according the judge) then it was plain stupid not to check where she was, call out to the person in the bathroom , assume the person in the bathroom intended him harm and to fire several shots in their general direction. In other news I intend to stand behind my office door with a cricket bat in case the next person to come along means me harm, first i'm just going to call the nice person who logged a call telling me "computers broken" and invite them over for a chat. See you all in 15 years
localzuk Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 If he didn't intend to kill his Reeva ( which he didn't, according the judge) then it was plain stupid not to check where she was, call out to the person in the bathroom , assume the person in the bathroom intended him harm and to fire several shots in their general direction. Thing is, during his evidence, he stated he did shout out for Reeva. But his story changed a bit each time he discussed it when he was being questioned. The judge said it was highly unlikely that he did, as she would have replied.
CAM Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 If he didn't intend to kill his Reeva ( which he didn't, according the judge) then it was plain stupid not to check where she was, call out to the person in the bathroom , assume the person in the bathroom intended him harm and to fire several shots in their general direction. In other news I intend to stand behind my office door with a cricket bat in case the next person to come along means me harm, first i'm just going to call the nice person who logged a call telling me "computers broken" and invite them over for a chat. See you all in 15 years That reads like a BOFH episode! Is your name Simon by any chance...? 1
Joanne Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 We keep having jokes in the staff room that it's going to be turned into a film: Oscar. With a tagline: legless.
MrMat Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 We keep having jokes in the staff room that it's going to be turned into a film: Oscar. With a tagline: legless. No doubt it would get a standing ovation... 1
rich_tech Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 Such another ridiculous media circus of a trial I thought, whatever the punishment handed out, a woman is dead under an "extremely strange/unbelievable/unrealistic" set of circumstances from what I have read and seen of the evidence reported, overall with this trial the same as with the OJ Simpson/Michael Jackson/Amanda Knox trials I feel the media reporting doesn't help overall in these instances when their ongoing matters in the court. I haven't any issue with filming the goings on in court, that's something thats positive and needs to always have public scrutiny and accountability, I would support that happening in this country too, I just personally have the feeling that its not a good idea to allow the reporting of a trial and its evidence and deliberations while it is ongoing, the potential for influencing any participant/juror/judgement is far too high nowadays.
Gatt Posted October 21, 2014 Posted October 21, 2014 Jailed for 5 years .. BBC News - Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years
elsiegee40 Posted October 21, 2014 Posted October 21, 2014 Jailed for 5 years .. BBC News - Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years The prosecution wanted 10 years and the defence wanted non-custodial.... compromise? (Says she doubtfully)
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