The trial of Oscar Pistorius for the Valentine's Day killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp -- Pretoria, South Africa

The state presents closing arguments in Pistorius case: Session 1

SABC News

Streamed live on Aug 7, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WwC5ENLqdo&list=TLoljnYbDoWxWmAScpSUEy-osZ13-sP3lI




The state presents closing arguments in Pistorius case: Session 2

SABC News

Streamed live on Aug 7, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70rQe0OkgWs&list=TL1jJkL0ue4WB-Xm1fQP_aA9T39MA0NCiF

Roux starts closing argument in Oscar trial

SABC Digital News

Published on Aug 7, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-T-tNmLgGI&list=UU8yH-uI81UUtEMDsowQyx1g

Legal View: Why I would find Oscar Pistorius guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp

As the South African court hears closing arguments, a law professor explains why the odds seem stacked against the paralympic athlete

By Professor James Grant, Criminal Law Specialist, Wits University,
Johannesburg
11:05AM BST 07 Aug 2014

In my view, Oscar Pistorius could be found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14 last year primarily because of his own poor testimony but ultimately because any doubts that his defence may have raised might well be dismissed as unreasonable.

The introduction by the prosecution of three other charges relating to the reckless or negligent use of a firearm and possession of ammunition was no accident - it was a cleverly constructed trap that Pistorius fell into by pleading not guilty.

The charges allow the state to introduce bad character evidence, or evidence of prior bad acts, that would ordinarily be inadmissible in relation to a murder charge since it is usually prejudicial, triggers stereotyping, and is ultimately irrelevant.

The judge can still reject such evidence as irrelevant to the murder charge, but it will be "in" at a subconscious level.

Read more:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/oscar-pistorius/11018205/Legal-View-Why-I-would-find-Oscar-Pistorius-guilty-of-murdering-Reeva-Steenkamp.html

Prosecutors hammer home the case against Oscar Pistorius: ‘All these lies caught up to him’

By Terrence McCoy and Abby Phillip August 7 at 12:05 PM

After more than 40 days of proceedings, the dramatic Oscar Pistorius murder trial has come down to which version of the Paralympic gold medalist will be believed: The loving boyfriend who was anguished by his girlfriend’s gruesome death, or the premeditated murderer that prosecutors have painted him as.

Prosecutors presented their closing arguments Thursday  in the trial of Pistorius, who, they insisted, is an unreliable witness who “pre-planned” the murder of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

~Snipped~

He focused on whether Pistorius’s screams truly sounded like a woman’s. A key question in the Pistorius trial was whether Steenkamp shouted before she was killed. Pistorius claimed she didn’t say anything before he fired the pistol — and he had no way of knowing she was behind the door. Neighbors, however, testified that they heard a woman’s screams before gunshots.

Pistorius’s response: He had screamed. His defense team at the beginning of trial said it would prove the Olympian “screams like a woman.” Nel said they never did.

He hammered Pistorius on his claims that he has anxiety, a matter that sucked up weeks of trial. Nel accused the runner of having “anxiety on call,” according to the Mirror’s live feed.

Read more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/07/the-final-judgment-of-oscar-pistorius/

7 August 2014 Last updated at 17:20 ET

Andrew Harding
Africa correspondent

Oscar Pistorius trial: Nel covers all options

~Snipped~

In the past I've accused the prosecution of failing to offer the court a coherent version of what it believes happened that night, and of focusing instead of simply trying to discredit Pistorius's own version.

Perhaps it's not a bad strategy. Still, it was disappointing to see Mr Nel once again dodging the opportunity to sell a comprehensive theory.

The state has produced plenty of damaging claims about Oscar Pistorius's version of events and about his character - not least his refusal to accept blame for the other two gunshot incidents. But it has consistently avoided weaving them into a minute-by-minute timeline. Instead, Thursday seemed mostly to be a rehash of things Mr Nel has been saying for some time in court.

Read more:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28698620

IMO

OP killed Reeva. There is no one else.
OP shot Reeva. There is evidence matching the weapon to the shot.
OP had illegal ammo. It is in the evidence.
OP has had other"reckless" behavior involving guns. Shooting thru an open sun roof, firing a gun in a restaurant.

OP and his brother have both behaved as spoiled elitists.
They act as if life and death are simply jokes for them to enjoy.
The killing of another is only power for them.

You are correct, AD, in stating OP has not taken responsibility for his actions but always blames it on someone else.

Currently, OP wants to blame the "moving" of fans, duvet on the "dirty" LE...It is simply a distraction from the case. The facts are: OP knowingly shot thru a door whether he knew WHO was behind the door, OP knew SOMEONE was behind that door. And he shot 4 times.
He killed the person behind the door.

Roux wants to tell the court how Nel should have conducted the court trial?

LOL!!!
  

Phakamile Hlubi @phakxx

@eNCAnews Roux: "Was that shot reflexive alone, or was it a reflexive shot combined with cognitive process?"
----- Did OP THINK about the act or was it only reflexive? Was this premeditated by minutes ?


Karyn Maughan @karynmaughan

Roux: when that woman picks up that firearm, it's not about one punch of slap, it's about the cumulation of the 67 punches before
----- In the analogy, Roux is stating it was a culmination of events. Where are the culmination of events for OP to have gotten out the gun, gone to the toilet, shot 4 times at close range thru a door to kill someone? Was it the REJECTION from Reeva on Valentine's Day? Did that push him over the edge when he expected a little sexual activity and she denied it to him??? Did he feel a rejection and that bruised his ego?

Karyn Maughan @karynmaughan

Roux: state told this accused that he committed premeditated murder, got up from bed, put on legs, armed himself...

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Karyn Maughan @karynmaughan

Roux: we have the exact time for the second set of noises: 3:17am. (this is time when state says Reeva was shot)

Dianne Hawker @diannehawker

Roux: There are about 5 mins between the 2 sets of sounds heard by neighbours.



http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Dianne Hawker @diannehawker

Here's what the defence is focusing on: Timeline, timeline, timeline.

http://enca.com/oscar-trial-roux-all-about-timeline


http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Karyn Maughan @karynmaughan

Defense: this is important because state says OP shot Reeva on his stumps. If he was seen on legs at 3:15am it was AFTER shooting @eNCAnews
4:00 AM - 8 Aug 2014

Karyn Maughan @karynmaughan

Defense arguing that witness who saw man in window at 3:15am could only have seen OP if he was on his legs...@eNCAnews #OscarTria

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

From youtube blog:


PMACARP
OP said he was told to bring Reeva down - NO medic would ask for anyone to be moved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aDl4HzE6fY&list=PL2BJTpLEt7O7zPu-8lpEaye8Os6chwX8G#t=1412

Roux is rather picky.
He is arguing against ALL the witnesses, doubting the words and what they said. Really ripping on the Stipp family.

IMO
1. There was an argument.
(Some part of this argument turned to the blood splatter on the bedroom wall. Is this when the cricket bat was first used?)
2. Reeva got up, went to the bathroom with her cell phone.
3. OP got up and went to shut the balcony door so as to contain any noise from argument, etc.
4. Reeva used the toilet and to inspect her injuries.
5. OP yelled at her to get the F out of his house.
6. OP got his gun to threaten her, scare her, perhaps.
7. Reeva stood inside the toilet stall debating who to call.
8. OP fired a "test" shot and Reeva screamed.
9. OP became enraged and shot Reeva. (Did she say to him, "Why would you do this? You know I love you?" Or maybe she said, "OP, you have to let me go. If you don't I will tell everyone about the porn on your tablet/computer.")

In order to set up the "intruder" theory, OP stole/hid one of his watches.

When/how did the pants get out the bath window?
Reeva was fully dressed.
OP did not have on a shirt when LE arrived.

OP TOSSED THE DUVET AND PANTS ON THE FLOOR WHEN HE WENT LOOKING FOR HIS CELL PHONE.

JMO

If OP yelled, help, help, help... why would he then turn away security when they called his home in response to a query from the neighbor?

Roux keeps stating the yelling and screaming were ONLY done by a man... OP. I disagree. There is no evidence4 it was a man but witnesses have stated it was a woman.

Why call for help when he could have raised the inhouse person who lived off the kitchen?

Why call for help when he could have set off the alarm from his bedroom?

IMO, it was not OP who screamed but Reeva when the first or second shots were fired.
The calls for help came from Reeva.

Media is nodding off, a man in white shirt at OP's court side is deeply nodding, and the judge just jerked her head and grabbed her pencil...
Roux is putting us to asleep. Along with the song of the air conditioner softly humming...

Roux is trying to take apart the state's case by doubting the witnesses.
Problem I see is Roux FAILED to cross examine the witnesses on specific details when they were testifying. Instead, he had already made up his mind to NOT question them so he could now throw the doubt at the court... Sneaky.

Now it is calling the "evidence" from the witnesses who heard the screams, etc., as being unreliable...corroborated... unproven (from expert witness on stomach digestion)... and that is all wrong....

According to Roux, Reeva was the problem!
She shot herself several times...
Reeva interfered in the life a HERO... an ATHLETE ....
Reeva wanted to be associated with the OP winner-in-life as she had no life without him....

Boo to Roux!

Freckles wrote:Roux is rather picky.
He is arguing against ALL the witnesses, doubting the words and what they said. Really ripping on the Stipp family.

Hi Freckles!

The Stipp family are very believable, they have nothing to gain by lying, Pistorius, on the other hand, had everything to gain by lying to the police and to the court, 'it is his life on the line" (on his own words).

When Pistorius testified, he attacked Dr. Stipp's testimony, he basically said that he didn't know what he was talking about when he said that Reeva was already dead when Pistorius brought her downstairs, Nel reminded him that Stipp is a medical doctor.

"The lady doth protest too much" ... Pistorius and his counsel have accused the police of altering the crime scene by moving things around, supposedly to make things fit their own theory of the events,  it was actually Pistorius who altered the crime scene by removing Reeva's body from the toilet cubicle.

Karyn Maughan @karynmaughan

Roux: the social worker said Oscar spoke about the pain he'd caused, it wasn't about him. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

6:50 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Dianne Hawker @diannehawker

Roux: there's no evidence of premeditated murder - evidence refutes the motive to kill. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

6:51 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Hey there AD! Been here mumbling to myself with disgust over Roux's presentation. Best if he just gave his "book" of arguments to the judge and let it go. OP is disgusting. All the way to his supposedly having mental problems/insecurities/anxieties around people... and it was proven he does not.

Yeah. OP did alter the crime scene. IMO, he did this intentionally to first try to throw suspicion on to a "possible" intruder... Then he stole his own watch (and lent one to his sister same day) just so he could blame the LE.... He started early into the crime to destroy, deform the evidence.

I must say he has earned my hate.
I don't hate many....but he is one.
And he earned my hate with his selfishness, his demanding control, his mistreatment of others....

I hear his brother Carl is now out of ICU.
I almost wish he, too, has so lasting disability which would keep him from driving. He got off easy with the killing of the biker, IMO.

Alessandra_Deux wrote:Dianne Hawker  @diannehawker  

Roux: there's no evidence of premeditated murder - evidence refutes the motive to kill. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

6:51 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Picking up the gun was the premeditation....
Walking to the hallway with a loaded gun was the premeditation....
Firing repeatedly into the toilet stall door was the premeditation....
Telling security he was okay after neighbor called security due to the screams, dogs barking.... showed guilt.

Premeditation can take seconds.
It is only an active thinking of doing something.
And then doing it.

Karyn Maughan @karynmaughan

Roux urges court to take note of evidence refuting that Oscar Pistorius had motive to kill Reeva @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

6:53 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Alessandra_Deux wrote:Karyn Maughan  @karynmaughan  

Roux: the social worker said Oscar spoke about the pain he'd caused, it wasn't about him. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

6:50 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Abnormal.
Normal would be OP stating how bad he felt killing his gf; how much he missed her; how they had plans;
how he wished he had done things differently....
and then acknowledging the loss and pain to her friends and family....

OSCAR TRIAL: Paralympian can be likened to an abused woman

South Africa | Friday 8 August 2014 - 11:53am

PRETORIA – The “slow burn” effect of Oscar Pistorius’s physical disability over time could be likened to the torment suffered by an abused woman, causing her to snap and kill.

Defence Advocate Barry Roux made this claim in the Pretoria High Court on Friday where he is making his final argument in Pistorius’s murder trial.

~Snipped~

"You have the facts, but please don’t say that putative self defence and the startle are contradictory because now you are standing at the door, anxious, vulnerable, trained as an athlete to react to sound, the slow burn of his disability over years – if you get a sudden sound at that point, you will get a startle response."

Read more:

http://enca.com/oscar-trial-paralympian-can-be-likened-abused-woman

Dianne Hawker @diannehawker

Roux: OP didn't lie about being on the balcony when he heard the noise in toilet. He never said he was ON the balcony. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

7:11 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

(Oh, yes he did!)

Karyn Maughan @karynmaughan

Roux on Oscar: this man suffers from a major depression. When he tells you he can't remember something, it makes sense @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

7:13 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Karyn Maughan @karynmaughan

Defence: no doubt that OP psych disorder and depressed mood must have had an adverse effect on the quality of his evidence @eNCAnews

7:08 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Dianne Hawker @diannehawker

Roux says it was "unfortunate" that the Zombie-stopper video was linked to #Pistorius. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

7:07 AM - 8 Aug 2014


Dianne Hawker @diannehawker

Roux moves to the 13 lies -"the proverbial baker's dozen." @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

7:06 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Karyn Maughan  @karynmaughan  

Roux: if this is a baker's dozen, I don't want to eat those cookies. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

7:21 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

(Roux trying to be sarcastic about his client's lies and contradictions that were enumerated by State during closing arguments)

Karyn Maughan @karynmaughan

Roux: don't excuse OP. But take his psychological condition into account when you evaluate his testimony. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

7:30 AM - 8 Aug 2014

Dianne Hawker @diannehawker

Roux says we don't have to accept Prof Vorster's evidence that OP has an anxiety DISORDER, but he does have anxiety.@eNCAnews #OscarTrial

7:27 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Karyn Maughan  @karynmaughan  

Roux arguing against finding that OP had direct intent to murder, asks why he would have fired from 2metres away if this was so @eNCAnews

7:32 AM - 8 Aug 2014


Dianne Hawker  @diannehawker  

Roux: if Pistorius wanted to kill Reeva, why didn't he walk into the bathroom (closer to the bathroom door)? @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

7:32 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Karyn Maughan  @karynmaughan  

Roux describes state's case as "muddled" @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

7:34 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

(Ah, the irony!)

Dianne Hawker @diannehawker

Roux: "why must she tell him she's going to the bathroom?" @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

7:39 AM - 8 Aug 2014


Karyn Maughan  @karynmaughan  

Defence: "In discharging the shots, OP did not (subjectively) reconcile himself with the possibility that it was Reeva in the toilet."

7:37 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Dianne Hawker @diannehawker

Roux: Reeva had no idea that anyone is going to shoot her, explaining why she stood behind the door. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

7:42 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Karyn Maughan @karynmaughan

Roux again argues that Oscar a Pistorius should have been charged with culpable homicide. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

7:49 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Oscar Pistorius Evidence Was Tampered With by Cops, Defense Says (Video)

Oscar Pistorius' defense attorney alleged evidence tampering by police during his closing arguments at the Olympic sprinter's murder trial on Friday. Barry Roux said that items in the double-amputee's bedroom, near the bathroom where he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, may have been moved around by investigating officers.

The items, including fans, a bed cover and an electrical extension cord, are relevant to the prosecution's argument that Pistorius is lying about his actions in the bedroom just before he shot Steenkamp. Roux also tried to hammer home the point that the South African athlete was a vulnerable yet loving boyfriend. The so-called "Blade Runner" maintains he killed the model and law graduate after mistaking her for an intruder on Valentine's Day last year. Prosecutors allege she was shot after an argument. On Thursday, prosecutor Gerrie Nel branded Pistorius a "deceitful" witness who presented a version of events lacking "any truth." Pistorius denies pre-meditated murder. The trial continues.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/pistorius-trial/oscar-pistorius-evidence-was-tampered-cops-defense-says-n175771

eNCA ‏@eNCAnews · 5m
Roux urges court to evaluate Oscar Pistorius as reasonable disabled person with anxiety not the ordinary 'reasonable man'

Nastasya Tay @NastasyaTay     ·   35s    

It all comes down to a split second, says Roux, a moment in the accused’s life. #OscarPistorius sits rigid, staring in the dock.

Nastasya Tay ‏@NastasyaTay  · 2m  
Roux: If your finding is that #OscarPistorius (a man with no legs, firing at a sound) behaved reasonably, “then you must acquit!

Nastasya Tay ‏@NastasyaTay  · 5m  
Roux has a v diff view of dolus eventualis. State: Did #OscarPistorius foresee he might kill? Defence: Did he foresee he might kill REEVA?

Read more:

https://twitter.com/NastasyaTay

Nastasya Tay @NastasyaTay · 31s

Presumably, the state is nowhere near agreeing w the defence timeline, given they’ve said gunshots were at different times. #OscarPistorius

Nastasya Tay @NastasyaTay · 1m
Judge Masipa wants to know if the state agrees with #OscarPistorius’ defence timeline. Only the phone call times, apparently.

https://twitter.com/NastasyaTay

Patricia Visagie ‏@Patrweezy  · 2m  
Nel now responding to some key point Roux made, including the new photos which were introduced as evidence #OscarPistorius #SABCNEWS

Karyn Maughan  @karynmaughan  

Nel says he's happy. Roux not so much. He wants to address issue of the photo. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

8:16 AM - 8 Aug 2014


Karyn Maughan  @karynmaughan  

Nel: Oscar Pistorius intended to kill a human being. He knew there was a human being in that toilet. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

8:14 AM - 8 Aug 2014


Dianne Hawker  @diannehawker  

Nel says Roux presented "two defences"  that are "mutually destructive". @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

8:11 AM - 8 Aug 2014


Karyn Maughan  @karynmaughan  

Judge interjects, questions how Roux example of an abused woman who snaps and kills husband is relevant to this case. @eNCAnews #OscarTrial

3:14 AM - 8 Aug 2014

http://www.enca.com/oscartrial/

Nastasya Tay @NastasyaTay · 1m

Masipa: #OscarPistorius verdict on 11 September

https://twitter.com/NastasyaTay

Alex Crawford @AlexCrawfordSky · 1m

#OscarPistorius uncle Arnold says about OP: 'I just want to get him on the Olympics (referring to OP).' Really? I say. 'I flipping hope so'


Alex Crawford @AlexCrawfordSky · 2m

#OscarPistorius family is delighted the way things have gone today comparing the two lawyers as "mercedes versus a fiat'


Alex Crawford @AlexCrawfordSky · 7m

#OscarPistorius is smiling and hugging family members and legal team too. Will the judge think the same?


Alex Crawford @AlexCrawfordSky · 8m

#OscarPistorius The defence team are hugging each other, smiling. They believe they've done a good job?

More ...

https://twitter.com/AlexCrawfordSky

Oscar Pistorius Trial: Friday: 08 August 2014, Session 1

Streamed live on Aug 8, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA86NUnVClg&list=TLJ9AnKgnZC32sBAlhURfmfW1KbImqYoWq

Pistorius defence slams State over inadmissible evidence

SABC Digital News

Published on Aug 8, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XdVZMZ2c0g&list=UU8yH-uI81UUtEMDsowQyx1g&index=5

Barry Bateman @barrybateman     ·   44m    

#OscarTrial Nel: is questioning the admissibility of this photo. It was not presented during the trial. BB


Barry Bateman @barrybateman     ·   45m    

#OscarTrial Nel: we now have a photo before the court. No meta-data available. The person who took it did not testify. BB


Barry Bateman @barrybateman     ·   49m    

#OscarTrial Nel asks permission to object to the submission of new evidence - the photos. BB

More ...

https://twitter.com/barrybateman

Verdict in Pistorius trial scheduled for Sept. 11

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA and GERALD IMRAY
— Aug. 8, 2014 9:38 AM EDT

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — The judge in the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius says she will give a verdict on Sept. 11.

Judge Thokozile Masipa made the announcement on Friday after the prosecution and the defense ended final arguments in the murder case against the double-amputee, who shot dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.

Pistorius said he mistakenly shot Steenkamp, thinking there was intruder in his home. The prosecution alleges the Olympic runner intentionally killed her after an argument.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/pistorius-trial-defense-alleges-police-tampering

Oscar Pistorius trial: 8 things we learned from defence barrister Barry Roux's closing speech

Aug 08, 2014 16:07  | By Richard Hartley-Parkinson

As the trial came to an end with the defence's closing statement, Barry Roux said Pistorius's disability had made him particularly vulnerable and anxious about crime over the years


Barry and June Steenkamp, parents of Reeva Steenkamp, attend the trial

Read more:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/oscar-pistorius-trial-8-things-4025496#.U-WrGiAo7IU