Man shoots woman in incident.

[Jaded]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21455453

Crikey!

[noisycrank]

"I guess it's about time for our William Tell act" William S. Burroughs

[mrcharly-YHT]

Yet another example of why easy access to firearms is a bad idea.

[toontra]

I'm baffled as to why the blanket media coverage of this story is going with the "apparently accidental" line.  Surely that's up to the authorities to determine.

[Wowbagger]

Isn't it a bit tasteless to put this in "The Sporting Life"? Surely Valentine's Day is the closed season for shooting girlfriends.

[Kathy]

I'm baffled as to why the blanket media coverage of this story is going with the "apparently accidental" line.  Surely that's up to the authorities to determine.

+1

[Charlotte]

I'm baffled as to why the blanket media coverage of this story is going with the "apparently accidental" line.  Surely that's up to the authorities to determine.

I suppose it would be massively insensitive to suggest that if he's trying to claim mistaken identity, he's not got a leg to stand on?

[Mr Larrington]

Blade Runner shoots his girlfriend. Was she a replicant?

(Stolen from Phil Cook in Ye Shedde)

[mrcharly-YHT]

I'm baffled as to why the blanket media coverage of this story is going with the "apparently accidental" line.  Surely that's up to the authorities to determine.

I suppose it would be massively insensitive to suggest that if he's trying to claim mistaken identity, he's not got a leg to stand on?

I think it would be taking humour a step too far. 

[spindrift]

Bladegunner!

[andyoxon]

Sorry, but jokes are in v.poor taste... JMO

[Hot Flatus]

Goodness knows I've got a broad sense of humour, but I don't find this funny at all.

[spindrift]

In an interview with the Daily Mail before the London 2012 Games it was revealed he slept with a pistol next to his bed and kept a machine gun by a window.

[mrcharly-YHT]

In an interview with the Daily Mail before the London 2012 Games it was revealed he slept with a pistol next to his bed and kept a machine gun by a window.

That's some serious paranoia. He lives in a gated and guarded area.

I wonder if he's had threats made against him?

[bobb]

In an interview with the Daily Mail before the London 2012 Games it was revealed he slept with a pistol next to his bed and kept a machine gun by a window.

That's some serious paranoia. He lives in a gated and guarded area.

Maybe, but as I'm sure you know - that sort of level of "Protection" is very common in South Africa.

Hell, you can even get flame throwers bolted to your car to prevent car-jacking. Legally.*

*Actually, that was a few years ago, dunno if it's still the case...

[Bledlow]

He's now reported to have been charged with murder.

Can we have the pre-judging thread title changed, please?

[clarion]

And the Police have said there were previous reports of domestic violence

[Bledlow]

The neighbours reported screaming & shouting about the time of the shooting.

The police say that they're surprised by the reports that they thought the shooting was accidental, or that  Pistorius may have mistaken her for an intruder.

[Notsototalnewbie]

My SA colleague is really upset by this. She says that level of paranoia is very common where he lived and seems convinced it was an accident.

Though of course some may find it pretty hard to believe that someone who’s your national hero could do something like this deliberately, so it’s very easy to see how the ‘accidental’ thing has come about regardless of evidence. There’s even talk of a Valentine’s surprise gone wrong.

Whatever happened, it’s very, very sad.

[caerau]

It doesn't look like it was an accident.  He'd been charged with her murder and there are reports that neighbours heard a row preceding the shooting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21459240

Oh dear 

[spesh]

The curse of Nike strikes again?

http://deadspin.com/5984225/nike-oscar-pistorius-ad-i-am-the-bullet-in-the-chamber

[Jaded]

He's now reported to have been charged with murder.

Can we have the pre-judging thread title changed, please?

Of course, changed.

Accident is such a prejudicial word and I didn't want to use it but the first reports suggested accident.

[caerau]

Well, he's only been charged, not yet convicted and we don't know what happened aside from a gun going off and someone getting killed.  So accident it may still be to be fair.

(looking unlikely though)

[Illegal Combat Ant]

Roses are red
Violets are glorious
Don't sneak up
On Oscar Pistorius

[barakta]

I'm baffled as to why the blanket media coverage of this story is going with the "apparently accidental" line.  Surely that's up to the authorities to determine.

I suppose it would be massively insensitive to suggest that if he's trying to claim mistaken identity, he's not got a leg to stand on?

*inarticulate nyagggh noise*      Extremely humourless reply alert.

Yes, massively insensitive and disablist - my twitter feed is full of (disabled) people being very distressed by legless jokes and that people are mourning for Pistorious rather than his rather dead girlfriend...

For many people it's raised bad memories of personal experiences of DV and being dismissed and told "He's so nice" or "You're lucky to have anyone".  Disabled women who are more than twice as likely to experience it with the figure going up even more for women with cognitive impairments.

Young woman with learning difficulties: http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/15-year-old-girl-raped-police-dismiss-case-because-victim-and-attackers-have-low

Young woman in the UK with ASD: http://samedifference1.com/2013/01/22/stanbridge-earls-school-criticised-for-failing-disabled-girl/

My friend works for SEN Legal who represented the young woman with ASD and it's a horrific case which constantly had things swept under the carpet.

Disabled victims of DV often have their health or disability needs used as the form of abuse against them, so withholding or care or drugs and being forced to do things which cause harm.