Oscar Pistorius Granted $115,000 Bail In Murder Case

Olympian and Paralympian, Oscar Pistorius, has been granted conditional bail in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Conditions of his bail include not returning to his mansion, which is the crime scene, staying away from witnesses in the case and not consuming drugs or alcohol. He must also report to police twice a week.

Prosecutors In The Oscar Pistorius Murder Trial Label The Star A Liar Over The Death Of His Girlfriend While His Defense Team Refutes Steroids Claim

Oscar Pistorius in court this week

Olympic and Paralympic sprinter and murder suspect, Oscar Pistorius, has withdrawn from all competition in the upcoming racing season, despite the fact he is seeking bail in his criminal trial, regarding the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. There may also be another reason. Police acknowledged the fact steroids were found in Pistorius' Pretoria, South Africa home, which is the crime scene.

Some will also interpret his announced withdrawal from all competition in the upcoming racing season, to the aforementioned steroids found in his property. However, Pistorius' legal defense team has refuted the police claim regarding the alleged steroids in his home, stating what was found by officers is a testosterone enzyme product that is classified as a herbal remedy. Pistorius' lawyers state the substance is legal. Medical tests are expected in this regard.

Reeva Steenkamp

Prosecutors have laid out a very serious case against the gold medalist and are adamant it was not an accident. They spoke in no uncertain terms about their strong suspicion Pistorius’ actions constitute "premeditated murder." They are of the belief, Pistorius is lying about mistaking Steenkamp for a burglar.

Evidence presented indicates Steenkamp was in her night clothes and an overnight bag was present in the property. Initially, it was reported Steenkamp surprised Pistorius and he opened fire. Now Pistorius’ defense team is stating the two were asleep in bed, he woke up and went onto the balcony at 3:00 without his prosthetic legs. Steenkamp went to the bathroom and Pistorius heard the noise, believing it was a burglar. They are stating Pistorius did not realize Steenkamp had gotten out of bed and went into the bathroom, as they allege it was dark due to the lights being off.

Prosecutors do not believe Pistorius' account of events, stating neighbors heard arguing and shortly after a woman's screams. Another key claim is a neighbor stating the lights were on in Pistorius' property, including the balcony in question. The neighbor stated he was on his own balcony and saw the lights on at Pistorius' place.

Prosecutors believe Pistorius attacked Steenkamp in the bedroom after the two had an argument (allegedly over his suspicion of her cheating on him) and she fled into the bathroom, locking herself in the toilet. Pistorius then opened fire, shooting her three times through the locked door, as bullet wounds were found in Steenkamp's head, arm and hip. The state alleges Steenkamp locked the door for a reason, as she was in fear of her life, due to Pistorius' attack.

Some in the press alleged Pistorius called a friend rather than an ambulance, implying he wasted crucial time when emergency medical services could have been summoned, potentially saving Steenkamp's life. However, it is estimated he called emergency services 20 minutes after the shooting.

Many news sources have cited police leaks in the case, which authorities have denied. Thus far, neither prosecutors or the police have publicly confirmed claims in the mainstream press of Steenkamp's skull being crushed with a cricket bat. It was stated today that other than the gunshot wounds found in Steenkamp's body, there was no other injury to her body.

This case marks a tragic turn of events regarding two promising lives - both Steenkamp and Pistorius - who had so much going for them. It is truly sad, as their lives have been destroyed. There is much to be learned from this case. Those who are truly paying attention will grasp those lessons and not walk down the same path.

Oscar Pistorius Should Be Placed On Suicide Watch

Oscar Pistorius in court

After being remanded into custody, in Pretoria, South Africa, on "premeditated charges" in the murder of his girlfriend, model, Reeva Steenkamp, sprinter Oscar Pistorius is facing a significant legal battle for his freedom. It has been stated, Pistorius' prosethtic legs will be confiscated in jail, as they can be classified as a weapons.

  

 

Reeva Steenkamp

With the loss of his girlfriend, name, career, sponsorship deals and freedom, Pistorius should be placed on suicide watch whilst in jail or if bail is granted in the case. The circumstances in his life dictate it. His emotional, tearful breakdown in court is also a sign of someone on the brink.

Oscar Pistorius Cries In Court As Charges For Killing His Girlfriend Changed To Premeditated Murder (Video)

 

Track star, Oscar Pistorius, who has been detained in the killing of his girlfriend, model Reea Steenkamp, broke down crying in court when prosecutors announced the charges would be upgraded to premeditated murder. Steenkamp is believed to have surprised Pistorius at his home in Pretoria, South Africa, a nation struggling with violence, leading to her death, as Pistorius has stated he thought she was an intruder.

There are items working for and against the famous, multi-millionaire double amputee in this case. For example, as stated above, South Africa has been plagued by violence, leading to a gun culture in the country, as citizens have armed themselves for protection, especially the rich like Pistorius.

Oscar Pistorius crying in court, as charges are upgraded to "premeditated murder." The athlete denied the charges and sent his condolences to his girlfriend's family.

In November 2012, Pistorius wrote on Twitter that he returned to his home only to hear noises and as a result rushed for his gun, believing the sounds indicated an intruder. However, it was the clothes dryer. The incident can be used to establish there was precedent for Pistorius' believing his home was being broken into and reaching for his weapon.

While some will refer to it as paranoia, but when living in a nation with a high murder and burglary rate, this can become everyday life. People who live in nations or cities with serious crime problems know when you hear a rumbling in your house you cannot identify, it is cause for concern. One is not paranoid when the threat exists and is real, especially if one has been victim to it before, as seen in other cases.

Pistorius breaks down in court

It needs to be established whether Steenkamp had keys to Pistorius' property, as police indicated no signs of forced entry exist. If she had a key and was planning a big surprise for Pistorius, as has been stated online, she could have innocently let herself into his home on Valentine's Day, not realizing what it could turn into in being misidentified as an intruder and shot four times behind a bathroom door. That very well could have happened.

I've attended surprise parties before for friends, who did not know everyone had gathered to wish them the best on their birthday. So, I can't judge Steenkamp or Pistorius' actions in this regard if that is what occurred. That would be one tragic and very sad accident.

Reeva Steenkamp

One item working against Pistorius is claims by the police regarding having been called out to his mansion on previous occasions over "domestic violence" issues. This is not an indication of guilt in a murder case, but will prejudice a jury in the hands of a skillful prosecutor.

Another item that could work against him is the fact Pisotrious was arrested in 2009 for allegedly hitting a woman, who later dropped the charges. The issue, if successfully entered into the court record, will work against him as well and be labeled a pattern of violence against women. A shrewd prosecutor will know how to mold those police reports to create an impression the next step up would be "premeditated murder."

Reeve Steenkamp recently began filming a reality show in Jamaica

Where some believe this case was a tragic accident via a shooting that occurred due to mistaken identity, the police have labeled it "premeditated murder" due to something they have in their evidence files leading them to believe it is so.

Until more facts are released, this case could go either way. It is the Judiciary Report's hope all the facts will come out in this case and if this was truly a case of mistaken identity, in believing Steenkamp was planning a surprise, Pistorius will not face jail. If the police successfully prove this shooting was something else, justice must be served.

Pistorius' previous post last year revealed he had a fear of intruders and went for his gun when he thought someone had broken into his home in November 2012

Steenkamp was said to be planning a Valentines Day surprise for Pistorius

As the Judiciary Report has written in the past, public conduct will impact sponsorship deals (The Positives And Perils Of Fame and Lindsay Lohan Moves Back In With Her Mom But Now Their Home Has Been Hit With Foreclosure Papers). It is now being reported, sponsors are canceling Pistorius' endorsements.

Side Bar: I know some of my readers are gun owners, but as stated previously, I am not into them. So much can go wrong, as seen in this case. I'd previously written about gun violence and celebrities.

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Sponsors rethink links to Oscar Pistorius

February 14 - The sponsors that helped make Oscar Pistorius the highest-profile and highest-paid Paralympic athlete in the world are having to rethink their commitment to the sportsman after he was charged with murder Thursday. The disabled athlete, whose performances at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games made a national hero in South Africa, had links with Nike, sunglass manufacturer Oakley, perfume maker Thierry Mugler and running blade manufacturer Ossur. In total, his sponsorship deals were estimated to be worth about $4.7 million.

Already, the South African satellite TV channel M-Net has pulled its campaign promoting the forthcoming Oscar awards season. "Out of respect and sympathy to the bereaved, M-Net will be pulling its entire Oscar campaign featuring Oscar Pistorius with immediate effect," the channel said.

A Nike spokesperson said: "Nike extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to all families concerned following this tragic incident. As it is a police matter, Nike will not comment further at this time." British Telecom, another sponsor of Pistorius, said it was "shocked by this terrible, tragic news." On Thursday, BT was also shortlisted for an industry award for its sponsorship of Pistorius. No one at Oakley was available for comment...

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