by Patrick H. Moore
Gone is the bravado. Gone is the tough guy who for inexplicable reasons — after rising to fame as the Blade Runner, the man who overcame impossible odds and achieved a measure of Olympian glory — began hanging out with skinheads and engaging in obnoxious, violent and often frightening behavior. Now the tables are turned and instead of the arrogant Oscar Pistorius that we had come to loathe, we have a frightened young man who prays with his family, tears in his eyes. How the mighty have fallen and we might even feel a measure of pity for Pistorius was it not for the fact the Reeva Steenkamp is also gone — gone to wherever people go when they are struck down in the prime of life by unnecessary bullets fired from unnecessary guns.
Oscar Pistorius was formally charged with the premeditated murder of Ms. Steenkamp on Monday, August 19th and bound over to a higher court to stand trial. Heather Saul Monday of the The Independent has the story:
An emotional Oscar Pistorius appeared before a Pretoria magistrates court today and was formally charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Before the hearing began, an emotional Pistorius could be seen holding hands and praying with his two siblings Aimee and Carl., who stood behind him during proceedings.
When asked by Magistrate Desmond Nair if he was well, he replied: “Under the circumstances, your honour.”
As is the case in many British-influenced countries, there is a formality in South African legal proceedings that goes beyond what we typically experience in American courtrooms. It seems unlikely that this case will deteriorate into the sort of “elaborate circus” that is so often the case in high-profile murder trials here in the U.S.
Papers presented in the Pretoria courtroom today included an eight-page indictment that reportedly contains the names of 107 witnesses that the state may call upon to speak. According to South African journalist Barry Bateman, among the witnesses who will be called to the stand to testify before the judge (unlike here in the States, there is no jury) are former footballer Mark Batchelor, his ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor and his uncle Arnold.
South African police finished their six month investigation into Ms. Steenkamp’s death last week and the case is now ready to be transferred to the North Gauteng High Court. The trial date has been set for 3 March 2014. Pisrorius’ bail conditions remain unchanged – 1m rand (£74,000; $113,000).
Although Pistorius is accused of the premeditated murder of Ms Steenkamp on Valentine’s night, the 26-year-old denies the charge, claiming he shot Ms. Steenkamp because he had mistaken her for an intruder. He has also claimed that he was not wearing his prosthetic footwear at the time of the incident and was feeling particularly vulnerable.
Unlike the United States, South Africa does not have the death penalty in capital cases. If convicted of murdering Ms. Steenkamp, Pistorius faces a life sentence with a minimum of 25 years in prison. He also faces a separate charge of contravention of the Firearms Control Act.
Although the “Blade Runner” was recently spotted kayaking with friends in South Africa, he has for the most part avoided the public eye since the night of Steenkamp’s death.
A statement appeared on his website in June:
“Oscar is not contemplating a formal return to athletics and his training is not aimed at preparing for competition. His focus at this time remains entirely on the court case. His family, and those close to him, have encouraged him to spend a few hours a week on the track to assist him in finding the necessary mental and emotional equilibrium to process his trauma and prepare for the trial.”
Ms Steenkamp’s parents have previously stated that they are still searching for answers. In a television interview in June, Ms. SteenKamp’s mother June Steenkamp opined:
“There is only one person who knows what happened.”
Reeva Steenkamp would have turned 30 today.
Click here to view our earlier posts on the Oscar Pistorius case:
Oscar “Blade Runner” Pistorius Will Be Indicted for Murder of Model Girlfriend
Oscar Pistorius, From Blade Runner to Bladezilla: What Will be Revealed at His Upcoming Murder Trial?