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Post by Admin on Jul 27, 2014 16:27:41 GMT
As he waits to find out whether he will be found guilty of murder, Oscar Pistorius has been accused of being drunk and aggressive in a fight at a nightclub. The Olympian, who has been standing trial over the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, was allegedly involved in a spat with racing driver Jared Mortimer on Saturday, and poked him in the chest aggressively. Mortimer said he went into the VIP club in the Sandton area of Johannesburg and was introduced to Pistorius, who allegedly began listing mutual friends he felt had "betrayed" him and boasted of his family's influence. Mortimer said Pistorius claimed his family "owned" the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and would "piss on" president Jacob Zuma. “He was going on about how influential his family is and how connected they are," he told South African website Juice. "He even pulled out his phone to show me pictures of armoured cars. He said ‘My family owns SANDF. Zuma works for us. I’ll piss on Zuma.” Pistorius then said "I'll always get the better of you," according to Mortimer, claiming he also grabbed his neck while talking to him. Mortimer said he then pushed Pistorius to the ground, at which point bouncers intervened. Pistorius then left the club. But the Paralympian's version of events was very different, claiming Mortimer tried to "aggressively engage him on matters relating to the (murder) trial". "The individual in question, according to our client, started to aggressively engage him on matters relating to the trial," his spokesperson said. "An argument ensued during which our client asked to be left alone. "Oscar left soon thereafter with his cousin. Our client regrets the decision to go into a public place and thereby inviting unwelcome attention." Pistorius will learn his fate next month, when a verdict in the trial will be returned. Pistorius claims he fatally shot Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder.
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Post by Admin on Aug 7, 2014 15:03:22 GMT
Oscar Pistorius was an "appalling witness" who repeatedly lied in his testimony in a crude attempt to defend against a murder charge for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, the chief prosecutor said Thursday during closing arguments in the athlete's trial. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel also harshly criticized the legal team of the double-amputee athlete, saying it floated more than one theory about what happened on the night that Pistorius shot Steenkamp through a closed toilet door in his home. Defense lawyers, Nel said, had argued that Pistorius acted in self-defense, fearing an intruder was in the house, but also raised the possibility that he was not criminally responsible, accidentally shooting Steenkamp because he was "startled." "It's two defenses that you can never reconcile," Nel said as Pistorius sat behind him in the dock. The once-celebrated athlete appeared calm, in contrast to some past occasions during which he retched and wailed in apparent distress. The fathers of the Olympic runner and Steenkamp, a model and television personality, were in the Pretoria courthouse for the first time since the trial began in early March. They sat at opposite ends of a long bench in the gallery. Pistorius is said to be estranged from his father, Henke, and Steenkamp's father, Barry, has been ill. Pistorius' older brother Carl, who has regularly attended court sessions, was in an intensive care unit in a South African hospital and was on a ventilator because of injuries suffered in a serious car crash last week, the Pistorius family said in a statement. Barry Roux, the chief defense lawyer, listened and checked files as Nel spoke for hours, occasionally urged by Judge Thokozile Masipa to speed it up, as he elaborated on the prosecution's written arguments of more than 100 pages that were submitted to the court last week. Roux will present his final arguments on Friday before Masipa adjourns the trial to deliberate with two legal assistants on a verdict. The prosecution has argued that Pistorius intentionally shot Steenkamp before dawn on Feb. 14, 2013 after a quarrel. The defense has previously contended that he fired by mistake, thinking he was about to be attacked by an assailant in the toilet and that Steenkamp was in the bedroom. Pistorius was vague in allegations that police had possibly tampered with evidence around the scene of the shooting, including fans and a bedcover strewn on the floor of his bedroom, according to Nel. It was also improbable that the athlete, in his version, rushed with his gun to investigate a purported sound in the bathroom without first trying to talk to Steenkamp and confirm that she was safe, the prosecutor said. "We cannot argue that he was the worst witness ever, that honor belongs to someone else," said the prosecution's written argument. "The accused was, however, demonstrably one of the worst witnesses ever encountered." The prosecution said Pistorius "used well-calculated and rehearsed emotional outbursts to deflect the attention and avoid having to answer questions." A psychologist who examined Pistorius during a court-ordered observation period concluded that the athlete had become severely traumatized since the killing and could become an increasing suicide risk unless he continues to get mental health care.
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Post by Admin on Sept 9, 2014 5:45:42 GMT
Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius is set to find out the outcome of his murder trial by the end of the week. The double amputee, 27, has denied killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, 29, on Valentine's Day last year at his home in Pretoria. Judge Thokozile Masipa is due to explain the reasoning behind her verdict on Thursday after a trial that has lasted six months. Barry Roux, defending Pistorius, has argued he had no motive for killing his girlfriend and said the athlete's disability meant he could not be expected to respond like an able-bodied person to the fear associated with an intrusion. But prosecutor Gerrie Nel alleges the gold medallist intended to shoot and kill Ms Steenkamp when he fired four shots through the bathroom door where she was hiding after they had an argument. The state in South Africa is pressing for Pistorius to be convicted to premeditated murder - which carries a life sentence. Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford has gained access to the home where the fatal shooting took place last year. Pistorius has since sold the property to pay his legal bills and removed his belongings. Alex Crawford said: "The house is a shell now, cleared of all his belongings, including his medals and running trophies. "It's a silent, empty reminder of the event which changed his life for ever and violently cut short his model girlfriend's."
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Post by Admin on Sept 11, 2014 14:43:58 GMT
Oscar Pistorius acted "hastily" and used "excessive force" which a reasonable person would not, said the judge who is deciding whether to convict the star of culpable homicidde. In a damning judgement, Judge Thokozile Masipa said: "I'm not certain a reasonable person would have fired four shots in to that small cubicle. A reasonable person would see a person... might die as a result." An emotional Pistorius listened to the lengthy judgement with his relations behind him, alongside relatives of Steenkamp. Masipa employed a "reasonable man" test to decide if Pistorius acted that night in a way that any 'reasonable' South African would have done in the same situation. She said Pistorius had failed to take steps to avoid the death of Steenkamp and had acted "too hastily" and used "excessive force." The court also heard that Pistorius could have summoned security if he had "picked up his cell phone" or "ran to the balcony and screamed," instead of opening fire like he did. Masipa pointed out there was "no reason" why Pistorius could not have done that. "It probably would have taken as much time - if not less, than to go to the bathroom and fire those shots," she said. The critical ruling by the judge gave the impression that Pistorius is likely to be found culpable to some degree, which opens up the possibility of a custodial sentence for him. But Masipa adjourned the hearing before announcing her verdict, meaning Pistorius is likely to find out tomorrow (Friday) if he faces up to 15 years in jail for the charge. Pistorius earlier wept in court the judge found the fallen super star innocent of murder. He was laid open to culpable homicide by being found not guilty of murder. The judge must rule how negligent Pistorius was on a sliding scale - with the jail term rising with the level of negligence. Pistorius' defence team claimed his disability affected his judgement on the fateful night and therefore his action passed the "reasonable man" test. Masipa said many South Africans were victims of violent crime, but that they did not all "sleep with firearms under their pillows."
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Post by Admin on Sept 12, 2014 15:37:41 GMT
"Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius, who was cleared of premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Thursday, was found guilty of culpable homicide or negligent killing in Steenkamp's death. The judge will pronounce the sentence on October 13. Pistorius's bail has been extended till then. Earlier on Friday, judge Thokozile Masipa said that the double-amputee athlete was not guilty of murder, as prosecutors had alleged. She ordered Pistorius to stand before she delivered the verdict. The sentence for a culpable homicide conviction is at the judge's discretion, and it can range from a suspended sentence and a fine to up to 15 years in prison. On the charge of murder, judge Masipa said, "the accused is found not guilty and is discharged, instead he is found guilty of culpable homicide." The South African judge, presiding over his murder trial, on Friday resumed her lengthy explanation of her upcoming verdicts in the killing of his girlfriend. Pistorius was also convicted on one of three unrelated firearm charges. The judge ruled that the athlete was guilty of unlawfully firing a gun in a public place when a friend's pistol he was handling discharged under a table in a restaurant in Johannesburg in early 2013, weeks before Steenkamp's killing. Pistorius was acquitted on two other gun charges, including a count of firing a gun in public and a count of illegal possession of ammunition in the Pretoria home where he killed Steenkamp. On Thursday, Masipa said there was not enough evidence to support a murder conviction for Pistorius' killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius fatally shot Steenkamp in his home on February 14, 2013. He said he mistook her for an intruder, while the prosecution said he killed her intentionally after an argument. On Friday, armed security officers stood at each of the three entrances to the courtroom, while others stood near the red-robed judge as she explained her verdicts from her dais overlooking the court. There were also paramedics in the courtroom.
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