Oscar Pistorius trial

[Redsgirl]

So, in keeping with this trial's movie like feeling, Judge has adjourned on a cliffhanger.

Thought Masipa has been amazing delivering her verdict, explaining her decisions clearly and very convincingly and even though I was disappointed when I sensed things were starting to lean Oscar's way, you couldn't fault her reasoning.
That was, until the last hour or so. She explained the error in persona/aberratio ictus stuff so beautifully that even I understood it, then seemed to contradict herself by saying he wouldn't have known someone could be killed if he fired through the door. 

I don't know, but I have complete faith that she will come to the right decision, she seems an incredibly astute lady.
All will be revealed tomorrow.

B.T.W. Pistorious should thank his lucky stars he has Judge Masipa and not a jury, or else the key would have been thrown away.

[kinboshi]

Why were you disappointed when you "sensed things were starting to lean Oscar's way"?  If her reasoning is sound, isn't her verdict going to be the correct one (as correct as a one-person judge and jury can be with the evidence they have heard and seen)?

He's going to get a manslaughter verdict (I think so anyway) - so he will go to prison.

[Kmac84]

He's going to get a manslaughter verdict (I think so anyway) - so he will go to prison.

Not neccesarily.  He could face a heavy financial penalty instead. 

[Redsgirl]

Why were you disappointed when you "sensed things were starting to lean Oscar's way"?  If her reasoning is sound, isn't her verdict going to be the correct one (as correct as a one-person judge and jury can be with the evidence they have heard and seen)?

He's going to get a manslaughter verdict (I think so anyway) - so he will go to prison.

Hi Kin  Not heard much from you of late.

I probably should have explained myself better.
I'm so thoroughly convinced he's a bad un I was a little dismayed at first when after initially saying guilty to the firearm offences, she started dismissing witness testimonies and stuff, and I thought great, she's going to sell out after all.
But, after listening to her conclusions I realised the points she was making were completely proper and fair and I was allowing my dislike of the man to cloud my views.

As I said, she lost me a little toward the end of the session, but I have no doubt wherever she's going with this it will be the best outcome of a difficult case.

[baldock92]

I can't believe he's been cleared of murder... Really didn't think his case would stand up

[BigAdz]

Literally watching the verdict now on BBC live and Judge Masipa looks totally uninspiring to me. She cant even differentiate between counts 2 and 3, and the day has just started.

You expect all your ducks in a row, if you know billions are watching. Just MHO.

Same as Baldock, this seems a sham.

[Doobs]

The problem is that the evidence isn't compelling enough to find him guilty of murder.   I the judge's head she might think that there is a 75% chance he had deliberately killed her, then she still can't find him guilty of murder as it has to be beyond reasonable doubt.  That is pretty much where I am, I think it is more likely that he deliberately killed her, but think the manslaughter verdict is probably the right one.   This is even if I think deep down he has probably got away with murder.  I do hope he is put away for some time. 

[TightEnd]

Interesting how Pistorius can be acquitted of having illegal ammunition when, like, you know, like, he fired four shots from a gun....

as one wag suggested

"At this rate, the judge is going to end up convicting Reeva Steenkamp of perjury for claiming to be dead."


in general though i can see why the judge has gone where she has gone but would be a real eye opener if he gets off culpable homicide too, in my opinion

[baldock92]

I sort of understand it has to be "beyond reasonable doubt" which perhaps it isn't.

But like Tighty said, if he gets off culpable homicide as well it will be ridiculous.

[baldock92]

Looks like my previous post is irrelevant as he's just been found guilty of culpable homicide. 

[kinboshi]

Why were you disappointed when you "sensed things were starting to lean Oscar's way"?  If her reasoning is sound, isn't her verdict going to be the correct one (as correct as a one-person judge and jury can be with the evidence they have heard and seen)?

He's going to get a manslaughter verdict (I think so anyway) - so he will go to prison.

Hi Kin  Not heard much from you of late.

I probably should have explained myself better.
I'm so thoroughly convinced he's a bad un I was a little dismayed at first when after initially saying guilty to the firearm offences, she started dismissing witness testimonies and stuff, and I thought great, she's going to sell out after all.
But, after listening to her conclusions I realised the points she was making were completely proper and fair and I was allowing my dislike of the man to cloud my views.

As I said, she lost me a little toward the end of the session, but I have no doubt wherever she's going with this it will be the best outcome of a difficult case.

I get ya. 

Well, looks like he's not going escape punishment now he's been found guilty of manslaughter.  Wonder what the sentence will be?

[The Camel]

I always thought if I was guilty of a crime, but trying to wiggle off the hook I'd have my best chance of walking free if tried by a jury.

Whereas if I was innocent, I'd rather take my chances with just a judge or magistrates.

This trial has proved me wrong I think.

[Redsgirl]

Glad we got some kind of guilty verdict in the end, although I still can't see how you can shoot someone through a door and not forsee their death.
I hope that the reason he was convicted of the lesser charge is because it is the safer conviction and less likely to be overturned on appeal, and she can still give him a lengthy jail term. I am a little doubtful of this though because she has dismissed almost all of the prosecutions case, including discrediting most of their witnesses,  so when the state puts forward its recommendations at the sentencing, there not going to have much to work with.

All in all I think she has come down on Pistorius side, and has taking his version as true, so unfortunately I don't think he'll se the inside of a cell at all.

[The Camel]

Glad we got some kind of guilty verdict in the end, although I still can't see how you can shoot someone through a door and not forsee their death.
I hope that the reason he was convicted of the lesser charge is because it is the safer conviction and less likely to be overturned on appeal, and she can still give him a lengthy jail term. I am a little doubtful of this though because she has dismissed almost all of the prosecutions case, including discrediting most of their witnesses,  so when the state puts forward its recommendations at the sentencing, there not going to have much to work with.

All in all I think she has come down on Pistorius side, and has taking his version as true, so unfortunately I don't think he'll se the inside of a cell at all.

If she planned to put him away for a long time I doubt she'd grant him bail.

I get the feeling he's going to be treated very lightly.

[RickBFA]

Its a joke decision.

The judge saying it wasn't proved he was trying to kill her is baffling. What did she think firing 4 shots through a door into a small space going to do?

Just weird that he's been granted bail.