Pistorius trial

[Cosmopolitan]

It's not just 1 judge - there are 3 judges and they all have to be in total agreement of a verdict.

[Tabitha]

I can't bear to follow this any more, it's so depressing. Whatever the outcome he's fucked and she's dead. The prosecution just seemed cruel earlier this week, I don't see how listing every ill-judged remark he's made can prove anything. Only he will really know what went on, and even he's probably convinced himself of the intruder story by now (if it is a story).

[Blondiejude]

To be honest I have no idea whether he's guilty or not but I thought the prosecution trying to force him to look at a photo of Reeva's face after the shooting in court was awful. For a start her family are presumably in court, they didn't need to see that. Did anyone? She was shot 3 times at relatively close range I think we can all figure out it wasn't going to be pretty, it seemed a bit sensationalist to me - is it normal to show photographs of the deceased victim like that? I know photographs are shown perhaps to show position of the body etc but this didn't seem to be to point out any evidence or fact, just to shock and upset?

[la Fée Verte]

The prosecution just seemed cruel earlier this week, I don't see how listing every ill-judged remark he's made can prove anything.

Yeah, exactly. It's pointless bringing that sort of thing up, really, because we all have arguments that would have dodgy-sounding elements if we were to be found dead.

[Sky]

I feel the same, blondie, and felt sick when scrolling through and article in the DM the other day that had a close up of the bullet hole in Reeva's hip. No warning or anything and certainly no need to insert it in the middle of the article.

[la Fée Verte]

Ugh, really? I would have thought better even of the Mail.

"I don't understand why you plead not guilty," says Mr Nel. "You just don't want to take responsibility."

This is stupid; this prosecuting lawyer sounds like he's telling off a child. They really can't prove this, can they?

[Blondiejude]

I agree it was a pointless thing to say. We all know he shot her, what we don't know is whether he meant to shoot her or he thought he was shooting an intruder.

I know he's arguing the prosecution but he did seem particularly harsh.

[George]

I can't bear to follow this any more, it's so depressing. Whatever the outcome he's fucked and she's dead. The prosecution just seemed cruel earlier this week, I don't see how listing every ill-judged remark he's made can prove anything. Only he will really know what went on, and even he's probably convinced himself of the intruder story by now (if it is a story).

Absolutely this. The whole thing is fucking awful and the court process seems unnecessarily barbaric for everyone concerned.

[Texaco Shirley]

To be honest I have no idea whether he's guilty or not but I thought the prosecution trying to force him to look at a photo of Reeva's face after the shooting in court was awful. For a start her family are presumably in court, they didn't need to see that. Did anyone? She was shot 3 times at relatively close range I think we can all figure out it wasn't going to be pretty, it seemed a bit sensationalist to me - is it normal to show photographs of the deceased victim like that? I know photographs are shown perhaps to show position of the body etc but this didn't seem to be to point out any evidence or fact, just to shock and upset?

Are they trying to shock him into a confession?

[Lily]

Hearing it on the radio this guy is a tosser. You can't make someone change their mind just by upsetting them. Shooting a watermelon is not the same as shooting a human.

[nick]

Pistorious' weeping, wailing and carrying on isn't impressive.
Also, "Before I knew it, I had fired four times". Yeah. As you do.

[smalex]

In fairness, I don't think he thinks it is 'impressive'. From the live bits I've heard his weeping and wailing sounds quite genuine (but is no reflection on his guilt or otherwise).

[Lily]

I don't think he's trying to be impressive. I think he's genuinely devastated.

[nick]

Oh I think he is emotional; I just think his emotion is mainly self pity, so we'd have to differ on that one.

[smalex]

I don't know. I think hes probably guilty but I do think hes completely distraught about it too. And not just for his own sake. He comes across as being arrogant, a bit unpleasant, but not as a cold hearted murderer with no compassion for his victim.

[Lily]

I would imagine he does feel self-pity as well as huge remorse and guilt for murdering his girlfriend. I think that's quite a normal response.

[nick]

but not as a cold hearted murderer with no compassion for his victim.

No, I don't think that he is a cold hearted murderer. I do think he's guilty though; also that the trial is more or less a circus.

[Disco]

When Pistorius keeps say "My lady" is he addressing the female judge in the middle even though Nel (man) is questioning him?

[Ella]

Yes- you address the court not the questioner, and the head of the court is the judge, who is female.

[Disco]

Ah, thank you!