PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 7 (SOUTH AFRICA OUT): Barry Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp's father arrives at the Pretoria High Court on August 7, 2014, in Pretoria, South Africa. Oscar Pistorius, stands accused of the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on February 14, 2014. This is Pistorius' official trial, the result of which will determine the paralympian athlete's fate. Closing arguements begin today. (Photo by Herman Verwey/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) -- The chief defense lawyer for Oscar Pistorius delivered final arguments in the athlete's murder trial on Friday, alleging that Pistorius thought he was in danger when he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and also that police mishandled evidence at the house where the shooting happened.
At one point, lawyer Barry Roux slapped his hand on the desk in front of him to mimic a sound that the double-amputee runner has said he heard on the night of Steenkamp's death. Such an alarming sound, Roux argued, explains why Pistorius thought an intruder was in his home and that he had to defend himself by opening fire.
On Thursday, chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel presented his final arguments that the athlete shot Steenkamp through the closed toilet door after an argument, describing him as an "appalling witness" who lied constantly during testimony to try to cover up the murder.
Roux said Pistorius' disability had made him particularly vulnerable and anxious over the years, comparing the runner to a victim of abuse who kills an abuser after a long period of suffering.
Pistorius has said he killed Steenkamp on Feb. 14, 2013 by mistake, thinking an intruder was in the toilet and about to attack him.
On Friday, Nel sat and listened as Roux alleged that items in Pistorius' bedroom, near the bathroom where he killed Steenkamp, may have been moved around by investigating officers.
"There was no respect for the scene," Roux said of the police investigation. He also noted that the former chief investigator, Hilton Botha, who later resigned from the force, was not called as a witness by the state.
The positioning of bedroom items, including a fan, a bedcover and a pair of Steenkamp's jeans, are important because, in police photographs, they were not in the places where Pistorius said they were before the shooting, leading prosecutors to argue that Pistorius is lying in his version of events.
The prosecution has argued that a fan was found standing directly in front of doors leading to the balcony, and therefore Pistorius' story that he ran to the doors, opened them and screamed for help after realizing he shot Steenkamp by mistake is not true. Prosecutors say Pistorius never went out to retrieve two fans before the shooting and move them inside, which the athlete says is the reason why he did not see Steenkamp get out of bed and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
The bedcover was shown crumpled on the floor in a police photograph. Pistorius had claimed it was on the bed, leading him to believe Steenkamp was underneath it in the bed when he went to the bathroom with his gun.
The premeditated murder charge carries a sentence of at least 25 years to life in prison. Pistorius could also be convicted of a lesser murder charge or negligent killing, both of which call for years in jail. Judge Thokozile Masipa could acquit him if she believes he only made a tragic error.
Masipa was expected to adjourn the trial at the end of proceedings Friday to deliberate on a verdict with the help of two legal assistants. South Africa does not have a jury system.
Witchy sez:
Barry Roux is desperate. If there was really any evidence of police tampering, it should have been presented in rebuttal of the murder charge, not as part of an unsubstantiated closing statement
Desperate move from a lawyer who knows his client is guilty...aka OJ Simpson trial.
We are about to find out if money buys justice in South Africa like it does here in the US.
What say ye Jury? GUILTY! Guilty... Guilty... GUILTY! Guilty... Guilty... Guilty... Guilty... GUILTY! Guilty...GUILTY!
Have a drink on me to celebrate the dumba** going to prison .
Nuff said ... HeHe
This is a new one , jury tampering . I been to a few jury trials , this guy Roux is putting on a show . If he don't get Pistorius off it is not for lack of trying or lying . As Witchy said all the evidence should have been presented at the trial not in closing statements .
ReplyDeleteI thank you ladies for carrying this story on this scum bag . I will say you ladies work well together , same story and each gives it straight from different angles , one from a news angle , the other from a celebrity angle .
Yes Witchy , I will have a drink with you and good riddance to the dumba** .
As you say see you later gator .(We both have plenty)
Ardis Whittin
Howdy Ardis ,
ReplyDeleteOne thing is for sure about Roux . he going down swinging .
I do hope the judge and her two legal assistants can see through the smoke and mirrors tricks and give Oscar Pistorius his just due . It seems to me Roux has used up all his cards and left with the JOKER .
Ardis did you notice Oscar's daddy , he looked like he was smelling and looking down his nose at the little people ...'OOPS" I meant the poor people [giggling]
Thank you so much ... 'The Genie' and I like doing stories and giving different angles .
See you later gator .