dancing cloud Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Not guilty of murder. Make of that what you will. It's certainly a talking point in the office here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 We were just discussing it at my mates.....I am shocked beyond words.....thought he would get a guilty without doubt... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 It isn't over yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I'm quite confident that he will be found guilty of manslaughter. However he killed his girlfriend he admits that he did. Whatever people think they know, if in court there is no absolute evidence of premeditated murder then it goes against our long held beliefs to convict him of that. I try to remember that if I wasn't there then I don't know how it felt at that time, in that moment. I guess we all have our own thoughts, I can't say I particularly believe his version but thank goodness we have a more thoughtful system of punishment than say, for example IS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I'm with Jude on this. I've found it interesting reading the judge's thought process. It's a different system to our judge and jury one and whilst neither are perfect they are better than the alternatives we can see in use She seemed very logical and measured in her evaluation of the evidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 It isn't over yet. I agree. The judge is being very measured, there is no point convicting him of something that could be overturned on appeal. 'Beyond reasonable doubt' is the key phrase...The prosecution may have to settle for a secure conviciton of a lower charge. Whatever the outcome, he still has to live with himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Any verdict will not bring the poor girl back (obviously) and OP will have to live with himself, as the only one who truly knows exactly what happened. I feel so much for Reeva's family, tho. Awaiting further developments.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 You know I am ashamed to say I had never heard of this bloke till all this. Bizarre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 (edited) I guess we all have our own thoughts, I can't say I particularly believe his version but thank goodness we have a more thoughtful system of punishment than say, for example IS. My YS was mugged 3 times in 18 months, he lost all his confidence... the last time it happened , he said "mum I was so scared I thought they were going to stab me" at that point I could happily mete out the same punishment as IS...I literally could have taken a life...I fantasised about what I could do to them and it wasn't pretty....scary stuff!!! Edited September 11, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 It isn't over yet. I agree. The judge is being very measured, there is no point convicting him of something that could be overturned on appeal. 'Beyond reasonable doubt' is the key phrase...The prosecution may have to settle for a secure conviciton of a lower charge. Whatever the outcome, he still has to live with himself. I agree - she seems to be ensuring that the conviction is water tight, and that justice is meted. I used to work with two South Africans when this all broke the news, they both said that they felt he was guilty as hell, apparently he is known for being mad as a bag of frogs. The whole culture of gun use and ownership there is pretty scary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Funilly enough, DM, a South African friend has been following this closely and it seems that the diffs in the justice system are vital......his op was the guilty one and he is confident that this will be the final outcome. All seems very confusing and diff from the UK system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 It says on the BBC website that if he knew that when he shot the gun through the door he could kill someone, he could be convicted of the lesser murder charge. I don't understand how anyone could argue that they could shoot 4 bullets at that range and not expect a person on the other side might die? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 That puzzled me too. surely he fired with intent to murder? You do wonder whether or not he was aware that his girlfriend was the other side of the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 But even if he didn't know it was her he must've known he was likely to kill whoever was there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 He fired a gun several times at a door with the intent of killing whoever was on the other side of the door. If he fired once, then he could say he wasn't intending on killing anyone. But to fire several times! What did he think the outcome would be? I hope there is some justice for Reeva and her family tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I still can't decide whether I think he knew it was her or not. Neither OH or I can understand how you wouldn't notice your partner wasn't next to you when woke up - but maybe if it was a massive bed and they were lying far apart after an argument? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I don't get that either mullethunter. Does anyone else remember reports in the press at the time of him being trigger happy, to the point of discharging a hand gun in a restaurant and then asking a friend to take the blame so he codul save his image? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Personally I find his version of events far fetched and my sympathies are with the Sttenkamps this evening who will I am sure be feeling that justice has not been served . However the prosecution's case was circumstantial and so..... As others have said the Judge perhaps wants to be sure she hands down a verdict and sentence which will stick . Let's see what tomorrow brings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 I don't get that either mullethunter. Does anyone else remember reports in the press at the time of him being trigger happy, to the point of discharging a hand gun in a restaurant and then asking a friend to take the blame so he codul save his image? Yes I remember something along those lines. Let's see how many " friends" come out if the woodwork with conflicting stories now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 Guilty of culpable homicide. We can only hope it gives Reeva's family some sense of justice and closure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 I do too. I am so glad he hasn't got away Scott free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Thank goodness for that - one more murderer put away... now for the boy who killed all those dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Guilty of culpable homicide. We can only hope it gives Reeva's family some sense of justice and closure. I think this will depend on the sentence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
