Pistorius Testimony Over, Back to Expert Witnesses

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 03:30:42 PM EST
Tags: Oscar Pistorius (all tags)

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Oscar Pistorius has completed his testimony. The prosecutor picked apart every little detail hoping to show his version of events was not possible. The state is pushing an alternate theory, however, it sounds like it's nothing more than "it might have happened this way." He didn't get Oscar to admit that any of the elements of his theory were correct. The state's theory is predicated on an argument between the couple, and given Oscar's denial and the lack of any other witnesses present, I don't see how the theory can be considered proved in any way, let alone by proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Here is the state's version, succinctly put on Twitter by reporter Barry Bateman, who has been in the courtroom every day:

A recap of the state's case as we understand it so far: Oscar and Reeva had an argument. She packed her bag to leave. There was perhaps a tussle over the jeans, which landed up on the floor. Oscar went for his handgun. Reeva fled to the bathroom, fearing for her life. Oscar followed screaming "get the f**k out of my house. Reeva locked herself in the toilet with her cellphone. The argument may have continued there for some time. Oscar opened fire, hitting Reeva in the hip. She screamed and fell backwards onto the magazine rack... now realising what he had done, Oscar put his handgun down and went to fetch his bat.

A good example of how the state has nothing more than a theory it has not proven:

Asked by Nel to repeat the exact words he used at the perceived intruders, Pistorius said he screamed at them to "get the (expletive) out my house." ....Nel said Pistorius did use those words, but to Steenkamp in the midst of a fight the prosecution maintains ended with Pistorius shooting his girlfriend multiple times through the door.

Alternative possibilities are not proof. The prosecutor wants the court to infer from the circumstances that its theory, rather than Oscar's version, is the truth. It can't do that without evidence that definitively refutes Oscar's version, and so far I haven't seen any.

What we have is a prosecutor trying to sell a story that might fit with the facts. Oscar stuck to his version. At best, it's a wash, which means Oscar should prevail, since the state hasn't met its burden of proof.

On redirect by Oscar's lawyer, which was very short, Oscar clarified what he meant by saying on cross it was an accident. He didn't consciously decide to shoot, it was a reflexive response to hearing a noise inside the bathroom.

I don't think the prosecutor came through on his promise to show Oscar’s version is a lie.

Some minor details that came out yesterday: Photos showed the jeans both inside out and right-side in, meaning someone changed them. Reeva had access to a remote alarm in the bathroom. An expert confirmed Oscar's statement that the light in the bathroom was not working. Reeva gave Oscar a Valentine's Day card that read "Roses are red, violets are blue. 'I think today is a good day to tell you that I love you."

The defense is now putting on an array of expert witnesses who will disagree with the findings of the state's experts.

The trial has a few more weeks to go.

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Thank Jeralyn (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by Rumpole on Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 05:54:22 PM EST

I must say it's such a relief to just have nel STOP... already.

I have seen Nel compared to Juan Martinez, but it is one thing for a prosecutor to show passion and aggression when confronting somebody whom he has seen convincing evidence against, and another for a Prosecutor to bully and attack a somewhat vulnerable, and quite possibly truthful, defendant. Nel was unpleasant to watch. Juan Martinez a joy.

At the end of all that bullying and badgering Nel comes up with a half-baked vague speculation as a State theory. It is actually not even up to the standard of speculation at True Gossip Forums, and that is never up to standing much scrutiny and analysis.

Anyway, nice to see the Trial back on track with some interesting expert testimony from the Defence side.

Just as an aside:
This application my Nel for a 2 week adjournment??
I imagine the Judge will approve, but I wish she wouldn't. Both sides have wasted time and taken breaks already. I guess one has to allow a defendant to take as much time as he needs, but I see less excuse for the Prosecution. Nel implied one colleague had some other legal matter to attend to, but also hinted the main reason was private commitments (Vacations?). I would love the Judge to rule "No! Mr Nel you can get by without one assistant.. and you can forget vacation plans until you get this trial done." It is not fair to prolong the agony for defendant or others involved. This is a 1st degree Murder Trial, not a Church Picnic.

One thing is undisputable; (none / 0) (#1)
by NYShooter on Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 04:20:38 PM EST

this was a horrible, horrible, heart rendering tragedy.

The unnecessary, violent death of an innocent, young lady is made even more disturbing by the fact that there wasn't even a purpose for it, such as would be the case, for instance, in a robbery.

All deaths are unfortunate, this one just moved me more than most.

: I was watching (none / 0) (#7)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 07:49:51 PM EST

a show on Investigation Discovery the other day that profiled Reeva's parents. Their grace in handling this situation was just amazing. Amazingly she said she had empathy for Oscar.

Roux's re-direct of Pistorious (none / 0) (#3)
by kookbook on Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 06:52:37 PM EST

The article above points out that "On redirect by Oscar's lawyer, which was very short, Oscar clarified what he meant by saying on cross it was an accident. He didn't consciously decide to shoot, it was a reflexive response to hearing a noise inside the bathroom." Very interesting. My first and only comment ever to TalkLeft was two nights ago and it suggests exactly that that is what Roux should do on re-direct. Very coincidental or maybe he reads TalkLeft.

The lesser (none / 0) (#4)
by bmaz on Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 06:53:47 PM EST

The lesser included ( I assume it will be put in play) seems to be the problem. And, assuming it is, it strikes me that it is far too convenient of a hat hook for the court to find. And the sentence is still a potential sledgehammer. Roux was full of manure, but from the recaps I have seen, may have made some headway. Interesting case.

: Isn't the problem (none / 0) (#6)
by NYShooter on Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 07:21:27 PM EST

that even if there had been an intruder in the bathroom Oscar would have still been liable for the, seemingly, reckless manner in which he discharged his firearm?
Since, I assume, the standard for finding guilt, or, not, is about the same in S.A. as it is in the States how far can you stretch the "reasonable man" standard if your defense is, "I thought I heard a noise behind a door, so, my first (reasonable) choice was to blast four 9 mm bullets in rapid succession through it?"

The Prosecution's Theory is Supported by Evidence (none / 0) (#5)
by Alexei Schacht on Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 07:13:19 PM EST

The prosecution's theory is supported by evidence, not merely by conjecture, as Jeralyn states. And while that evidence may not be totally compelling it is strong enough (if believed) to warrant a conviction for murder (assuming the statute is similar to ones in the States).

3 witnesses (Michelle Burger, Charl Johnson and Annette Stipp) all testified to hearing a woman scream before the gunshots. Maybe they are mistaken or lying but if the jury believes them on this one point then that alone could lead to a fast conviction as it would mean OP is lying about the most important facts - that he thought she was in bed and they had had no fight.

On top of that, the proof apparently shows that she was standing behind a locked door when the first shot struck her, an odd thing to be doing and one that makes sense if they had been arguing and she locked herself in the bathroom to be away from OP. And while they had many loving WhatsApp messages to each other she also sent him "I'm scared of you sometimes ..."

: FYI, there is no trial by jury in South Africa. (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 08:16:39 PM EST

In criminal trials such as this one, the defendant's fate rests in the hands of the presiding judge, which in this case is a middle-aged Xhosa woman, Thokozile Masipa. She is being assisted by two assessors, who are themselves judges that serve as her advisors on matters of law, but will have no say over the final verdict. That call will be hers, and hers alone.
Judge Masipa made a name for herself in legal circles as only the second African woman to ascend to the formerly all-white bench in South Africa back in 1998. She appears to be eminently respected by her peers on the bench and barristers of all races and ethnicities, and by all accounts, most think she's thus far doing an outstanding job presiding over this highly charged trial. She has also compiled a record for coming down quite hard on male defendants accused of abusing or killing women, but we probably should not read too much into that.
Aloha.

: you are welcome to disagree but (none / 0) (#10)
by Jeralyn on Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 09:35:09 PM EST

nothing you cite is evidence of Oscar's intent to kill Reeva, which the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt for the first murder charge.
AS to the neighbors' testimony about hearing a woman scream, their descriptions of the sequence of shots and screams don't match up, nor do the they match as to number of screams, one was the equivalent of blocks away, and it might have been Oscar they heard. (The defense maintains he screams in a high pitch voice.) Also, some of the witnesses may have confused the sound of the cricket bat hitting the door with sounds of shooting. They did comparison tests. There are several other problems with their testimony as I detailed here, after watching it live.
Hearing a scream is not evidence that Oscar intended to kill Reeva. It's evidence from which an inference can be drawn -- or not.
And there is no jury in this trial, it's a trial by judge with two "assessors" to assist in the factual determinations.
There is conflicting evidence as to her position in the bathroom.
Most importantly, the state's argument rests on the premise, of which there is no evidence, that they were fighting before the shot.

Despite the Prosecution's Overreaching (none / 0) (#9)
by RickyJim on Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 09:01:19 PM EST

Is there anyone who thinks Culpable Homicide has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt?

: Just a thought (none / 0) (#11)
by Rumpole on Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 09:46:37 PM EST

IANAL (obviously)
My (simplistic) view is that the State failed to prove that OP shot KNOWING Reeva was behind the door. And so NOT murder at all.
OP is "vulnerable" as a double amputee. It is SA where home invasion, rape, torture, murder are well known. Perhaps it is understandable (justifiable?) to react (in self defence) to a perceived intruder?
Just speculation... one way of viewing things. How would it fly if one considers that OP (in his mind) fired at an intruder, but in effect MISSED and shot Reeva by mistake. An accident?