Is Pistorius really that thick?

I think Oscar pistorius is, and has been for some time, mentally unstable with psychopathic tendencies.

I also believe his court expression of remorse and grief may in part be genuine, because he has suffered the result, and shocking self-realisation of what he is capable of.

Debs

Absolutely   Either that or he is a criminal Olivier    Probably both

What do you base that on? A hell of an assertion. Do you know anything at all about Pistorious or this case that hasn't been fed to you through the tabloid press?

I guess we all have our views on his behaviour in Court but ultimately for me it comes down to this; if you wake in the night suspecting an intruder surely you know wether your partner is in bed with you. Indeed apparently he said he whispered to her to stay put. Except she was in the loo, Another question-do you lock the door of your loo at home when you go for a wee in the night?

I thought the lack of a jury would change the way this case played out. I wondered if it would reduce the grandstanding and emotional stuff and make it drier and more factual. Does not seem that way.

As for the tabloid view of the case-in fairness we can all hear audio and read true verbatim if we wish to make up our own minds.

Bruce

Very true. He also has history with anger issues and irresponsible use of firearms. His story does seem incredulous to any normal person.

The whole situation is really sad and I feel very sorry for the poor parents who have had to sit through the evidence in court.

In the course of my work I once spent an evening with Oscar Pistorious; a young man on the brink of fame, he was a typical teenager, full of himself but good fun, struggling with significant disability. It's really tragic to see what's become of him and who knows what the outcome of the trial will be? There will be much continuing sadness.

+1

Those were my thoughts entirely when I heard his statement.

Guilty, then, in the court of naim before all the evidence has been heard in the real court.

Must say his testimony that his firing four shots through the closed bathroom door was 'an accident' seemed very strange to me.  But maybe that's because I'm lucky enough not to live in a country with a gun culture. Perhaps 'accidents' like that happen frequently in such countries.   

Dear Lionel,

Not guilty here. That is the Court's responsibility to decide, and I only comment that if he was in bed with his beloved, I can imagine no circumstance where an averagely bright person would not know if he were in bed alone before shooting through the bathroom door.

Either he is more than averagely thick or very evil.

It is the Court's decision.

ATB from George

Nobody is guilty until all the evidence has been presented and the cross-examination is complete.

However, as normal people, views are formed (and changed) as the evidence is presented and as the cross-examination proceeds. The benefit of a discussion on a sensible forum such as this, is that it allows us to express our (undoubtably) changing views as the evidence and cross-examinations progress.

Quite rightly such a discussion would not be allowed to a jury, but each member of a jury must undergo such changing thoughts during a trial. And in this case, since there is no jury, just a single Judge, I guess she must be weighing up the evidence etc in a similar way as the trial proceeds.

I see nothing wrong with expressing (changing) viewpoints in the safety of a forum, where the discussion simply can't affect the outcome of the trial.

The waking up in bed thinking your partner is there scenario is utterly believable to me. I've done it only to find that my significant other has departed for the spare room on account of my olympian snoring. On the other hand a) I don't own a firearm b) I didn't try forcibly to enter the room she was in, c) and most significantly I do not and never have, and probably never will live in SA where violent entry into homes is a regular occurrence particularly if you are a world famous sportstar. I sympathise, but can't empathise. His story is implausible, but it is possible, and in my experience truth is often weirder than the wildest fantasy. Any here without sin?

i agree on the "implausible" bit. if i heard an unexpected noise while in bed with my better half, its likely i would ask her "... did you hear that"? before rushing off with a loaded gun. i am also somewhat surprised by his selective memory and what seems to me strange "emotional breakdowns". i don't know for sure whether they are genuine or not, but there are for sure somewhat 'strange'.

but i have to say that Nel seems to be taking too long to get to the 'point' - and he keeps going back and forth. This could of course be deliberate, but i sense that OP 's evidence is so tentative (i dont know whether this then implies its not true, but if it is, its sure odd...) that he could get at some of the points a lot faster.

enjoy

ken

Dear Ken,

It implies to me that Pistorius is proving an "unreliable" witness, which in SA jurisprudence will not count in his favour.

My opening post posits the thought that Pistorious is rather lacking in either common sense or intelligence.

If someone is stupid, then at least they should rely on the [inevitably consistent] truth. and if if Pistorius thinks he is cleverer than he really is and thinks he can tell untruths, then the story had better be consistent, or else it soonl falls apart,

I know some couples do sleep in two single beds pushed together, but anyone sharing a single mattress is completely aware of the presence of their partner. Indeed, their partner leaving the bed would be enough even for a deep sleeper to wake up in concern.

ATB from George

George, in my experience it depends on the size, quality, and composition of the mattress. The weight and agility of one's partner has its part to play too.

Has anything been mentioned about use of alcohol/drugs in all this? Whence stems his paranoia?.

Who goes to the toilet at home in the middle of the night and locks the door?

Good question. in my simple mind, this suggests he has something to hide.

I really feel very sorry for Reeva's parents, to sit through all this... regardless of verdict.

enjoy

ken

My money's on this very thing Loki, but although IIRC it was mentioned at the beginning of this whole sorry story it hasn't been mentioned since. But then being out of your tree on drugs isn't a defence.

Indeed.

Who shoots through a locked door without first yelling at the person behind it to identify themself when you don't even know for sure anybody is there? Or even just rattling the door to see if anybody was actually present would be enough to elicit a response.

Bruce