Willow Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Speculating on the circumstances at this stage would be inappropriate but very sad at the news Oscar Pistorius shot and killed his beautiful girlfriend today However it came about it is a tragedy for all concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I feel very sad about this. Whatever happened it will be a shame to see such a fine man end up in jail. He seemed stressed during the Olympics didn't he. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I must admit that I had never heard of him until this morning,but it seems like a needless tragedy to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted February 14, 2013 Author Share Posted February 14, 2013 He seemed stressed during the Olympics didn't he. He had put himself under a lot of pressure to achieve so much and he achieved almost everything he tried to. I must admit that I had never heard of him until this morning How did you miss seeing him in the papers last year I was surprised to hear he's only 26, it's a few years since I first heard of him so I assumed he was older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Havn't really 'caught up' with this story yet so not sure what happened (if anyone else even is!) but whatever did, a tragic waste of two lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted February 14, 2013 Author Share Posted February 14, 2013 so not sure what happened (if anyone else even is!) I think all that is known for certain is that his girlfriend was shot dead with four shots, they were the only two people at the property and she was shot with his gun. Why he might have shot her, whether it was a mistake.accident is all speculation at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I must admit that I had never heard of him until this morning How did you miss seeing him in the papers last year Because I have less interest in sports than I do almost anything else probably Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I was lucky enough to be in the Olympic Stadium when he won the 400m. He was the reason we went. A sporting hero of mine. I'm devastated for all involved and pray it was an accident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 So very sad, whatever the circumstances Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 With regards to his status he is the most famous and universally admired South African sportsman. He is their equivalent of David Beckham. Absolute tragedy but what a strange aspect of our psyche that we automatically feel more sorry for him than for his victim and her family. Assume it is because of his status. If his girlfriend had shot him, accidentally or not, she would be vilified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Yes, it's a tragedy; for her. I don't like him or sumpathise with and ever since his interview in which he was clearly bitter about people using longer blades to race than they did to register. The fact that they are now pushing for a murder charge so quickly implies they think Pistorius is guilty of Premeditated murder, and in a country with a very soft touch on the right to shoot someone dead in self defence and if you feel your life is in danger. If I am in the house and my wife comes home... one I am usually expecting her and two, we say hello on entering the house. All very odd, if you ask me. He's a rapid rising star, and like most rapid rising stars, probably needs help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 Absolute tragedy but what a strange aspect of our psyche that we automatically feel more sorry for him than for his victim and her family. I think everyone would automatically feel more sorry for his victim. She sounds like she was a lovely lady with everything to live for. Whilst few people say anything bad about someone who has lost their life in tragic circumstances it is clear she was Intelligent, beautiful and using the interest in her to try and raise awareness about violence towards women (which is horribly ironic given how she died). And that is not to say if she was someone without all of those gifts it would be less tragic for her friends and family. I think the interest in this case is that he seemed such a good role model of achievement under adversity. And whilst the interview after he lost the race and complained about the longer blades did not show him in a good light we also don't know the context of questioning from the interviewer. None of us are perfect all of the time and the press manipulates our perception all the time. Occasionally being less than gracious under pressure does not make him a bad person in my book but if the shooting was anything other than a tragic accident then that does (and it's hard to see how it can have been an accident). I will however wait for the trial to make up my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Very tragic story for everyone involved and I thought The Sun's choice of front page this morning was very distasteful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Don't get me wrong. I don't want to see him get banged up just because I don't like him... and I agree, he has done a lot for the sport, but that's his job as a sportsman too. I want to see him banged up 'if' he shot, killed and murdered her. Stuff like this happens all the time. I know people who horrible stuff like this it has happened too (granted, they didn't shoot their partner, but someone else did), and seen the social fallout from it. Typically however, we don't raise a brow until it's a 'celebrity'. So... I don't care about him at all... He'll have a significantly better chance of winning his case than either me or you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Showing sympathy for Pistorius doesn't automatically imply lack of sympathy for the victim. I think that if I lived in many parts of the world I would have dogs and weapons for protection. I think the implication that I am only interested because he is a celebrity is insulting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 I want to see him banged up 'if' he shot, killed and murdered her. Absolutely. And whatever happens when the trial is over Miss Steenkamp will sadly still be dead and her family and friends will continue to grieve long after the media circus has moved on. But I'll form my opinion as the trial proceeds and the facts emerge. Oscar Pistorius is someone I had heard of well before 2012 olympics and admired for what he had achieved primarily in sport but also because he was interesting. All killings are shocking to someone and yes this one is shocking to me and many others who didn't know him personally because it is someone we'd heard of and admired. But that is not because he is a celebrity, if this had been a Kardashian for example I'd feel sorry for those involved followed by indifference and if this had happened a year ago ie. before the olympics I'd have been just as shocked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I have to admit that he is someone that I have never warmed too, but despite this I hope that he can have a fair trial. He has overcome a lot but has often seemed arrogant and his complaint over the blade length in his post ace interview at the Olympics came across as sour grapes. My thoughts are with their friends and relatives at this sad time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Showing sympathy for Pistorius doesn't automatically imply lack of sympathy for the victim. I think that if I lived in many parts of the world I would have dogs and weapons for protection. I think the implication that I am only interested because he is a celebrity is insulting. I hope I didn't come over in an insulting way - not intended at all. My first thought when I heard the news was what an awful thing to have happened to him - I was questioning my own reaction as I think my first thought should have been for the victim. I think he is an amazing athlete and role model and a true sporting icon and this whole situation is so tragic - whether by accident or not his, his family and the victim's family''s lives will never be the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 No Chickendoodle, there was nothing you said that irritated me and I agree with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 No, I think the insult came from me actually, but it stands.... not as an insult to anyone, but as a critique on society in general, and 'celebrity' status does make a difference, regardless of innocence or guilt... his chances seem good. That is all I am saying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 I have to agree with some of what you say Stu without wishing to escalate this thread into any sort of argument. I too saw a flash of something I didn't like after his defeat in the Olympic 200 metres. Consequently I can see him capable of such an awful crime. I am concerned at the fact that many are happy to believe his innocence because of his public persona. No one knows what goes on between couples behind closed doors. However unpalatable, there s currently sufficient evidence to charge him with the murder of an innocent victim in a domestic setting. Being disabled and being famous does not make the crime any less serious. An innocent young woman is dead and too many people are 'mourning' the'loss' of a public figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 .... I'll form my opinion as the trial proceeds and the facts emerge. Same here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 I am concerned at the fact that many are happy to believe his innocence because of his public persona...Being disabled and being famous does not make the crime any less serious. I don't believe anyone on this thread has suggested he is innocent or that the crime is anything less than serious. But people are innocent until proved guilty in a court of law and I have seen newspapers vilify someone I know before the court case and turn their view around as they heard the evidence to the point where all papers had filed their copy of an rapid acquittal story and had no backup guilty story before the jury came back. I've also saw very slanted reporting from the court in the early days of the trial where I wondered if the journalists had sat in the same room as me and some of the most dramatic evidence was not reported on in the press at all. So what we see in the press is not a basis for determining someones guilt - evidence released in court to a jury should be. Which is why I said I will make my mind up as the full facts emerge during the court case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest anyone on the forum was I was meaning in general. I agree to that we should wait for the full facts to emerge. All that we have at the moment is the charges brought and the loss of a life. More that that is speculation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 I think it is always hard to make a statement 'in general' on a forum, and I always try to read them as such, unless I am named... ...but anyway, I have two major concerns: 1. that the 'facts' in cases lik this one seldom do emerge unscathed. It's the nature of 'knowing' people and heralding them as having a loftier position than they deserve... and 2. We are now already faced with the ''leaking' if information surrounding the arrest... cricket bats, runnings and shooting through closed bathroom doors..? This is the disappointing thing. God knows, these are not facts, but at the same time, they do explain why the state has been so quick to level a charge as they have. I would just urge people to read threads like this as neutrally as possible. Of course, I await the proceedings, but I'm far from perfect, and do tend to make my mind up as I go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
