Oscar Pistorius convicted of murdering his girlfriend

[Lineker]

Well, that was unexpected.

[MDK]

Is everyone a killer in south africa?

[Lineker]

You could say that this prosecutor is in a spot of Botha.

[METALMAN]

Botha isn't the prosecutor you diseased idiot fuck.

[Lineker]

They all look the same to me.

Prosecutors and investigators, that is.

[METALMAN]

The worst thing about this story is that there are so many South African accents on the news now.

Worst thing apart from the girl who was murdered, of course.

[Thrilla]

Desmond Nair is talking forever.

[MJB]

Still going.

[Thrilla]

How is this guy still talking?

[MJB]

Law is dull.

[Thrilla]

If Oscar Pistorius didn't commit murder, he'll likely want to after having to sit through all of this.

[MJB]

Bail granted.

[Thrilla]

Bail has been granted after a two hour or so summing up of the case.

[Baddar]

I doubt your typical average guy would've been given the same treatment. He'll be getting off with it, at this rate.

[SeanDMan]

I dunno, from the time it took for them to lay out their case it seems like the prosecution has a lot to pin against him. If he were a smart man, he'd leg it.

[lanky316]

I agree, I understand how hard it'll be for him to flee the country and so on but, there will be somebody, somewhere today who is refused bail despite there being doubt as to whether or not they killed someone. In this case it's clear he killed her and the only doubt is "did he think it was someone else" which at best is still surely manslaughter? As it stands it seems that if they decide "he didn't knowingly kill Miss Steenkamp" he will be able to continue his career willy nilly without even a lesser sentence for the lesser crime. Hopefully someone who understands SA law better could help clear that up.

[Thrilla]

From what I've been able to figure out from following the case, South African law is based on crimes being rated on tiers, called schedules. For this trial they need to decide if it is Schedule 5 (Which would be manslaughter) or Schedule 6 (Which would be premeditated murder). Minimum sentence for a Schedule 5 offence is 15 years, minimum sentence for a Schedule 6 offence is 25 years.

[Baddar]

Apparently the bail conditions are being appealed today. Who's doing the appealing, exactly?

If it's on Pistorious' side, they have some nerve. You'd think they'd be elated that he was granted bail in the first place.

[lanky316]

IT seems that he's appealed so he can have his passport back and go back into competetion between now and the trial. You just know he'll probably get it and the first event he turns up at will see him given a heroes welcome. Amazing.

Edited March 11, 2013 by lanky316

[Colly]

I can understand the appeal against the alcohol requirement as it seems unnecessary, but after arguing for bail in the first place on grounds of him not being a flight risk, only to then appeal the requirement to stay in the country feels crazy.