Man shoots woman in incident.

[LEE]

I only just found out that South Africa does not use the Jury system.  Just a single Judge makes the decision.

If that's common knowledge then it passed me by.

[Kathy]

I only just found out that South Africa does not use the Jury system.  Just a single Judge makes the decision.

If that's common knowledge then it passed me by.

Having sat on a jury in the past and been astonished by the general ignorance and bigotry held by people who were supposedly "my peers",* I'd find that a relief!

_{*"He must of done it or they wouldn't of arrested him" being the choice phrase which has stuck with me.}

[toontra]

That was made very clear by the better international journalists early on.  It goes a long way to explain why many reporting restrictions we would expect here are not followed in SA - no danger of prejudicing a jury.

[bobb]

Has anyone come up with a motive?

That seems to be the one thing people aren't really speculating about.

As far as I'm concerned, his version of events are either:

a. A truthful account of what happened
b. A pack of lies

If it's b, what the fuck was his motive?

[clarion]

What is the motive of a domestic abuser?*



* Not prejudging, but just striking a comparison.

[Wascally Weasel]

Has anyone come up with a motive?

That seems to be the one thing people aren't really speculating about.

As far as I'm concerned, his version of events are either:

a. A truthful account of what happened
b. A pack of lies

If it's b, what the fuck was his motive?

I don't know but if it does turn out to be b, it's possible he might not either, at least not now.  There are enough 'motiveless' spouse murders in the UK even without handguns in the bedroom.

[Psychler]

I only just found out that South Africa does not use the Jury system.  Just a single Judge makes the decision.

If that's common knowledge then it passed me by.

Having sat on a jury in the past and been astonished by the general ignorance and bigotry held by people who were supposedly "my peers",* I'd find that a relief!

_{*"He must of done it or they wouldn't of arrested him" being the choice phrase which has stuck with me.}

Not only this but a general lack of interest amongst some jurors. 

I sat on a 5 week child neglect case some years back and at the end of the trial I had three exercise books full of notes.  Two of the jury members had made no notes at all and three of them about two pages worth.  None of these five had anything to add to the two day deliberations of the jury. 

One actually said that she'd vote with the majority, whichever way that was.  Another had been warned by the judge about being asleep in the jury box.

[LEE]

Has anyone come up with a motive?

That seems to be the one thing people aren't really speculating about.

As far as I'm concerned, his version of events are either:

a. A truthful account of what happened
b. A pack of lies

If it's b, what the fuck was his motive?

He was very annoyed with her?

That's the "motive" behind many killings.

[bobb]

Fair enough. I haven't done much murdering, so I'm not really up to speed on such matters 

[clarion]

I expect we're a bit light on experts on that issue.

But there are a good few of us who have been professionally involved in domestic abuse cases/issues/processes.

[Illegal Combat Ant]

I think Tracey Thorn (from Everything But The Girl) has got it about right on Twitter.

[barakta]

Article about disabled role models and disablism the whole case has raised up in public.
http://tigerbeatdown.com/2013/02/19/the-curious-case-of-reeva-steenkamps-boyfriend/

[cuddy duck]

I expect we're a bit light on experts on that issue.

Why would you expect that?

[Sergeant Pluck]

I sat on a 5 week child neglect case some years back and at the end of the trial I had three exercise books full of notes.  Two of the jury members had made no notes at all and three of them about two pages worth.  None of these five had anything to add to the two day deliberations of the jury. 

One actually said that she'd vote with the majority, whichever way that was.  Another had been warned by the judge about being asleep in the jury box.

That's really sad

[RJ]

Article about disabled role models and disablism the whole case has raised up in public.
http://tigerbeatdown.com/2013/02/19/the-curious-case-of-reeva-steenkamps-boyfriend/

That's rather good ...

[clarion]

I expect we're a bit light on experts on that issue.

Why would you expect that?

Are you trying to tell us something?

[Hot Flatus]

I expect we're a bit light on experts on that issue.

Why would you expect that?

Are you trying to tell us something?

Come come.

I can't be the only person who has noticed Cuddy's voracious appetite for quill stems?

I can't imagine what he does with them...

[cuddy duck]

I expect we're a bit light on experts on that issue.

Why would you expect that?

Are you trying to tell us something?

Yes, that I'm curious why you would expect members of this forum to be less prone to murderous domestic abuse - either as victims or perpetrators - than the norm. Is the incidence of murder lower among clever people who ride bicycles? Come to think of it I haven't seen Malvolio in a while.

[clarion]

No, if you read the post above

Fair enough. I haven't done much murdering, so I'm not really up to speed on such matters 

you'll see that I was agreeing few of us have done much murdering.  I hope!

Domestic abuse is wider spread than most people think.

[LEE]

What's the betting that Pistorius gets off with this due to Police incompetence?

This Botha fella is sounding like a nasty Inspector Clouseau.

[andrewc]

What's the betting that Pistorius gets off with this due to Police incompetence?

This Botha fella is sounding like a nasty Inspector Clouseau.

It's starting to sound like one of Tom Sharpes earlier books.....   Konstabel Els lives !

[Euan Uzami]

The prosecution's argument is it's unbelievable that he thought it was a burglar because why would a burglar hide in the bathroom - well, possibly in order to pretend NOT to be a burglar.

[Sergeant Pluck]

What's the betting that Pistorius gets off with this due to Police incompetence?

Odds look pretty good. What a mess. Just as per the Dewani case, the whole system seems too compromised and incompetent for there to be any chance of a proper investigation.

[Wowbagger]

What's the betting that Pistorius gets off with this due to Police incompetence?

Odds look pretty good. What a mess. Just as per the Dewani case, the whole system seems too compromised and incompetent for there to be any chance of a proper investigation.

Is it about a bicycle?

[Sergeant Pluck]

What's the betting that Pistorius gets off with this due to Police incompetence?

Odds look pretty good. What a mess. Just as per the Dewani case, the whole system seems too compromised and incompetent for there to be any chance of a proper investigation.

Is it about a bicycle?