Olympic double amputee Oscar Pistorius charged with murdering girlfriend

[thatgirl]

They forfeit their right to be treated like a human.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...n_1948542.html

That article is really sad.

I realize that there will obviously be limitations in the care that prisoners with disabilities receive in prison, but this stuff is just sadistic. I don't support things like this...

[gsdx]

A bloodied cricket bat has been found on the premises:

Johannesburg, Feb 17 (IANS) Investigators have found a bloodied cricket bat in the home of paralympian Oscar Pistorius who was charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, it was reported Sunday.

The cricket bat was at the centre of the murder investigation against the star athlete, reports Xinhua.

Police were investigating two possibilities: that the cricket bat was used by Steenkamp to defend herself or that Pistorius used it to break down the bathroom door to get access to where Steenkamp was hiding.

According to the article, there was lots of blood: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/bloodied-cr...121020848.html

[Hard-up1]

The justice system should be above the behavior of killers and rapists, not on the same level.

And I hope that my own views of civilization hold as strong when I've lost a child or friend or sibling or other loved one to murder.

We say one thing, but when we experience devastating loss, our minds are not in charge -- our emotions are.

I don't advocate vigilante actions, but I don't begrudge those who ask for justice rather than social rehabilitation. When a loved one has been brutally murdered, it's really hard to tell how society is made better by that killer being on the street twenty years after his victim is worm food.

[gsdx]

it's really hard to tell how society is made better by that killer being on the street twenty years after his victim is worm food.

And sometimes, when the defendants can afford really, really good attorneys, they don't even really get off the street. Right, O.J.?

[Hard-up1]

I actually never followed any of the O.J. case, not the "chase" down the highway, not the trial, not any of it. I've also never watched a football game outside of high school, and not then, as I was in the band. Never have seen one on TV -- just not interested.

It was big time non-news to me. He had been a celebrity, successful in sports and then commercials, but I didn't think the whole thing merited the obsessive coverage. Rodney King was a real story.

Mr. Simpson was just another celebrity murder.

Although I sympathize with the victim, I didn't have any skin in the game, so wasn't drawn in. I thought the indignation of many white people I knew was just plain embarrassing. He didn't get off because he was black, but because he was wealthy, just as you say, as many wealthy men have before, and Lizzie Borden for that matter.

In the end, I don't actually have a real opinion of guilt if I am not going to sit on a jury and be given access to evidence and arguments, and that goes for the case at hand or any other. Assuming guilt based on peripheral details is one thing, adjudicating a legal finding is another.

[cgymike]

Oh I just love Pistachios....

[Kraseviya]

I do too, untill they shoot me and crush my head with a cricket bat.

[Laufey]

And I hope that my own views of civilization hold as strong when I've lost a child or friend or sibling or other loved one to murder.

We say one thing, but when we experience devastating loss, our minds are not in charge -- our emotions are.

I don't advocate vigilante actions, but I don't begrudge those who ask for justice rather than social rehabilitation. When a loved one has been brutally murdered, it's really hard to tell how society is made better by that killer being on the street twenty years after his victim is worm food.

I'm not really taking a stand on the length of imprisonment. I just think prisoners should get humane treatment while they are in prison. I'm not naive enough to believe all prisoners can be rehabilitated so sometimes you have to lock up people for life but I still think those people should be treated humanely.

I understand the feelings of wanting to punish them as much as possible, especially when they hurt you or a loved one. But that's why we have neutral people deciding the punishment rather than the victims.

A long time ago when we had the whole viking culture going on a large part of the population (especially the male population) was killed because people kept revenging their loved ones. Revenge killing or even honor killing. I understand that behavior considering the structure at the time but I'm very glad we have managed to move pass that. Hate and acts of revenge can turn into a negative cycle which drags the whole society down.

And believe it or not but a lot of people manage to stick to their belief on humane punishment even when a loved one is killed. Some people even manage to forgive. There are cases where family members actually plead the court not to give the death sentence. I think this attitude is much more constructive and I think it's a good development that more and more people believe in the justice system being about protecting society rather than revenge. The word justice is often just used as a fancier word for revenge.

We also have to keep in mind that even if the victim is just one we still have two families of grieving people. The killers also have loved ones and giving the prisoner inhumane treatment can take more toll on their families.

[blackbeltninja]

Whether they can make the premeditated murder charge stick

I'm not so sure, hey. Current thinking is he shot her through the bathroom door, and there is murmuring about a bloody cricket bat which was used by someone on the night. He doesn't appear to have any wounds on him, so... the mistaken identity thing mentioned initially is out the window, and since he doesn't appear to have been hit I don't think he should try to claim self-defence, either.

Sad story either way, though. The Sunday papers had a field day with the story yesterday.

-d-

[pat grimshaw]

I wonder where Pictorius' money comes from? He lives in a very handsome house in a gated community.

[-Callum-]

^ Sponsorships, clearly.

I sincerely hope he isn't put in with general population. I could only imagine what inmates would do to his prosthetics...it wouldn't be humane to have a double amputee (or anyone disabled) in with the general population.

[LeicsDom]

I sincerely hope he isn't put in with general population. I could only imagine what inmates would do to his prosthetics...it wouldn't be humane to have a double amputee (or anyone disabled) in with the general population.

The same could be said about what it seems he did to his girlfriend in a fit of temper.

[Hard-up1]

The word justice is often just used as a fancier word for revenge.

We also have to keep in mind that even if the victim is just one we still have two families of grieving people. The killers also have loved ones and giving the prisoner inhumane treatment can take more toll on their families.

For the vast majority of history, the words for justice have been synonymous with revenge.

For those able to live up to the ideal of mercy, it's a good thing inasmuch as the forgiver is able to reach that place, as only he has the right to forgive. The State can mete out codified justice, but it has no power to extend grace, only institutional status for its citizens.

To the degree that justice systems are seen to work, they garner support for their decisions. When they don't, vigilantism erupts.

[gsdx]

I wonder where Pictorius' money comes from? He lives in a very handsome house in a gated community.

^ Sponsorships, clearly.

He's already lost 2 of them. Oakley and Nike have backed out:

http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/nik...001937307.html

[blackbeltninja]

^Yeah, but he netted 18 million in local mickey mouse money (roughly US$2 million) in 2012, so he was sitting pretty.

-d-

[pat grimshaw]

I saw a British doco on Caster Semenya which seemed to raise more questions than answers about her/him.

A side issue seemed to be that it was OK to bend the rules a bit because Caster Semenya would at least get a decent standard of living in a brick government hostel ward rather than living in a shanty with her/his family.

[LeicsDom]

I saw a British doco on Caster Semenya which seemed to raise more questions than answers about her/him.

A side issue seemed to be that it was OK to bend the rules a bit because Caster Semenya would at least get a decent standard of living in a brick government hostel ward rather than living in a shanty with her/his family.

It was confirmed that, despite the doubts, she is female

[Telstra]

I saw a British doco on Caster Semenya which seemed to raise more questions than answers about her/him.

A side issue seemed to be that it was OK to bend the rules a bit because Caster Semenya would at least get a decent standard of living in a brick government hostel ward rather than living in a shanty with her/his family.

What has that got to do with Oscar Pistorius murder charge ??

[pat grimshaw]

What has that got to do with Oscar Pistorius murder charge ??

It's continuing the thoughts from #64 and 65 that money plays a big part in the Olympics — which I remember were supposed to be for non-professionals and the non-chemically-enhanced.

[figjam]

It's continuing the thoughts from #64 and 65 that money plays a big part in the Olympics — which I remember were supposed to be for non-professionals and the non-chemically-enhanced.

makes no sense. nothing to do with the topic at hand.

[Telstra]

makes no sense. nothing to do with the topic at hand.

Yea, i can also say.
South Africa is springbok, and sometimes lynch the burglars with car tires and burn them. But has nothing to do with Oscar Pistorius.

[figjam]

Yea, i can also say.
South Africa is springbok, and sometimes lynch the burglars with car tires and burn them. But has nothing to do with Oscar Pistorius.

well the lynching with car tires usually happens in the township communities and is not that common. Burglars on the other hand - they can be found everywhere.

[Telstra]

Do you believe his story?

Quote:
He awoke in the dead of night to bring in a fan from the balcony when he heard a noise.
"Filled with horror and fear" that someone was in the bathroom, he said he felt "very vulnerable" because he did not have his prosthetic legs on.
"I fired shots at the toilet door and shouted to Reeva to phone the police.
"Reeva was not responding. When I reached the bed, I realised that Reeva was not in bed.
"That is when it dawned on me that it could have been Reeva who was in the toilet."
After smashing the door with a cricket bat, Pistorius said "Reeva was slumped over but alive"
"I tried to render the assistance to Reeva that I could, but she died in my arms."
He said he kept a firearm, a 9 mm Parabellum, under his bed at night because he had been a "victim of violence and burglaries before."
He was not only acutely aware of intruders intending to commit violent crime but that "I have received death threats before."

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/news/arti...ll-girlfriend/

[Kraseviya]

If only he had known these helpful tips.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/the...ing-you,31359/

In today’s fast-paced world, it seems like just about any guy can accidentally kill his girlfriend at virtually any time. Here are some easy strategies to avoid inadvertently murdering your significant other:

Be sure to avoid firing a gun in the general direction of your girlfriend, regardless of the situation.
Shy away from doing anything that may cause your girlfriend a massive amount of blood loss, such as beating her, stabbing her, or shooting her multiple times.
Consider performing a task that has a low risk of accidentally murdering your girlfriend, like giving her flowers, taking her to dinner, or letting her continue living and breathing.
Remain generally cognizant of the fact that three gunshots to the head and torso will, in most situations, fatally wound a person, and that this fact will, therefore, likely apply to your girlfriend as well.
If there is a locked door in your home and there is even a remote possibility that the person you’re currently dating is behind that door and could be immediately killed by the bullets you fire at the door, try not to fire a gun directly at that door.
In general, if there is something that you think might cause your girlfriend to stop living, don’t do that thing.

[M10000]

Oscar released on bail

I think he could be a flight risk, or maybe he'll kill himself

[pat grimshaw]

...I think he could be a flight risk...

yes he might run away when no one is looking

[Telstra]

Oscar released on bail

I think he could be a flight risk, or maybe he'll kill himself

Maybe like OJ simple.
Found not guilty and got away with murder.

[gsdx]

Oscar's brother, Carl, is also facing murder charges:

JOHANNESBURG - The brother of Olympic star Oscar Pistorius is facing a culpable homicide charge for a 2008 road death, compounding problems for the family after the double-amputee runner was charged with premeditated murder in the Feb. 14 shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Lawyer Kenny Oldwage said in a statement that Carl had been involved in a car accident "in which a woman motorcyclist sadly lost her life." He said that "there is no doubt that Carl is innocent and the charge will be challenged in court."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/lawyer-says...085430967.html

[Laufey]

Wait they are just now going after him because of something which happened in 2008?

[pat grimshaw]

Wait they are just now going after him because of something which happened in 2008?

Someone said here last year South Africa's police force is like the Keystone Cops.

[frankfrank]

well the lynching with car tires usually happens in the township communities and is not that common. Burglars on the other hand - they can be found everywhere.

Necklacing is one of the most gruesome ways to die that I can think of. Thank the Lord that it is NOT common.

I guess some of the medieval devices would be just as horrible, such as the iron maiden or the rack (which I think was used more as a torture method, but which would cause death in the end).

Wait they are just now going after him because of something which happened in 2008?

The same question occurred to me right away, as well.

[gsdx]

I guess some of the medieval devices would be just as horrible, such as the iron maiden or the rack

Apparently the iron maiden is fiction. No authentic devices have been found. All of the devices we have today seem to be replicas of an imaginary device.