Oscar Pistorius Guilty or Not ?

[Colin]

In this Country, the decision would be up to 12 members of the Jury, none of whom in the vast majority of trial cases would be 'professionals' and all of whom are able to make a judgement on facts presented. Anyone can go into a court room and watch the trial if they so choose. If a country decides to televise a trial, then what is wrong with people making a judgement based on what they see and hear? Its no worse that making a judgement based on what is reported in the news or in the papers.

 

Nothing at all but, 'shouting it from the rooftops' might be taken as trying to influence the jury and subject you to a 'contempt of court' charge.

 

I think you will find that newspapers are very careful NOT to pronounce someone as 'guilty' before a trial has ended.

[Windwalker]

what a lot of toss, this is a free country, and we can think what we like, but just not free enough to say it..!!!, The term you are referring to is slander, and it isn't slander if you don't say he did it but just think it and share it with others in a free country.

Your more than entitled to your opinion, but let's try and have a discussion like adults

[MuckleJoannie]

 

Does anyone know if Ladbrooks or william hill is taking bets and what the odds are at present?? I would like to shove a few quid on him being convicted, I have more faith in the south african courts than the hopeless UK ones.

Paddy Power got into trouble over betting on the result

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26642437

[Davie P]

Nothing at all but, 'shouting it from the rooftops' might be taken as trying to influence the jury and subject you to a 'contempt of court' charge.

I think the court (if they had any jurisdiction!) would be very busy indeed if they were to go after everyone who publicly expressed an opinion on whether they though he was guilty or not!   

 

What's being discussed here, and how it's being discussed, it nothing compared to what I've read over the past few days on other social networking sites and elsewhere.

 

Personally, I think it's a little silly for folk to have an opinion one way or another while evidence is still being presented. However, I see no real problem with people discussing the case. As with most high profile cases, it's all through the media so to expect people not to discuss and/or form an opinion seems a little naive (that last bit isn't directed at you by the way Colin)

[panstreak]

thanks to muckle joannie, for the the link, very interesting, sad tho az i don't see why we shouldn't have a flutter, its just the same as betting on the nags for the national etc, the losers don't moan when others bet against them, were all just getting on with life and some people need to lighten up a bit. what we say and do won't bring riva back, or make a difference to the courts presiding over the case, so wheres the harm???? life has become too P.C. and people are losing the point, these days. ooh and sorry to wind walker if he took offence, none was intended, 

[MuckleJoannie]

Having lost two members of my family due to the actions of others I would have been beyond upset is I knew someone was betting on the results of the trials.

[Para Handy]

Why so much coverage of this it's not in this country after all

[JohanofNess]

Because the boy is an internationally known athlete.

 

I think he intentionally shot her at the same time I think he regrets it. Still murder though, he fired live rounds through a door he knows the only way to get out of killing someone in those circumstances is to claim his life was in danger.

[Moody Blue]

Some years ago I had personal experience of defending myself when I was attacked. He got hurt and I didn't, but the subsequent trial was very stressful. The outcome was favourable to me, but I would not feel comfortable defending myself again. You almost feel it's best to get hurt and hope it's not too bad and then let the law take it from there.

 

Looking at the Pistorius trial the prosecutor is pushing the issue of he shot a gun at someone, whether that was Reeva Steenkamp or indeed an intruder. The question of self defence has to be debatable because the intruder was behind a locked door and Pistorius had a loaded weapon. Just how much danger could he have been in.

Another major question is why didn't he ask who was in the locked toilet. "Who is there I have a loaded gun!" would surely have brought some response from the now deceased; again whether it was Reeva or an intruder.

Pistorius' self defence argument appears very weak, at least on the surface.

 

All that said, South Africa is a far more dangerous environment than British people are use to and so the innate reaction to potential threats would also be different to ours and probably more extreme.

[cleargemstone]

Guilty for sure,anyone can see he shot her during a row, he comes across as a spiteful tantruming little turd who has a chip on his shoulder about his disability

I'm not a spiteful person but I hope he burns in hell !