Pistorius refuses to look at photo of dead lover

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By GERALD IMRAY and CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) - A shaken Oscar Pistorius refused to look at a gruesome photo of his slain girlfriend's bloodied head on Wednesday, telling a prosecutor through tears, "I don't have to look at a picture. I was there."

"It's time that you look at it," chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel said during a fierce first day of cross-examination in which he doggedly pressed the double-amputee Olympian to "take responsibility" for killing Reeva Steenkamp.

The 27-year-old Pistorius is charged with premeditated murder in the Valentine's Day 2013 shooting of Steenkamp, who was hit three times - in the head, arm and hip - as she cowered behind a locked toilet door. Pistorius says he shot the 29-year-old model and law school graduate by mistake, thinking she was a dangerous intruder.

Gasps could be heard in the courtroom from spectators, including the dead woman's mother, June, when the police photo suddenly appeared on multiple TV screens showing Steenkamp's head turned to the side, her blonde hair drenched in blood and a mass of tissue on the back and upper parts of her skull, her eyes closed.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140409/DAD2RNC80.html

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Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday, April 9, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

[madokie]

1. he killed her in cold blood

he can talk all the shit he wants but I'll always think he killed her because she had told him she wanted out and he freaked. I personally hope he goes to jail for a long long long long long long time, like forever.

[barbtries]

3. i agree wholeheartedly.

murder.

[madokie]

5. Yup he is a murderer in the first degree

croc tears and all.

[Skittles]

2. I'm sure he does regret it

I'd very much regret losing my temper and murdering my partner

[azurnoir]

4. I was watching this on BBC news very early this am (live courtroom)

IMO the prosecutor could not have done watch he did in an American court, it would have been thrown out, especially the part where he demanded Pistorius reveal what in a US courtroom would have been privileged attorney - client conversation, in general IMO the prosecutor was abusive

as to Pistorius guilt I honestly have no idea or opinion

[LuckyLib]

7. I saw the same BBC report. Very different courtroom culture.

Here it would have been badgering the witness/defendant.

[lapislzi]

12. It's not America.

No jury. Just a judge. I can't speak to the efficacy of the SA judicial system, but I'm sure Mr. Pistorius's lawyers are mounting as vigorous a defense as they are able and is allowed under law.

I think the aggressive presentation of the photographs (which I agree ought not to have been shown on a TV monitor) goes directly to the defendant's presumption of entitlement. Many South African white males live in an entitlement culture wherein they believe they can get away with anything. And that used to be true.

But, you are *not* entitled to shoot repeatedly at what you think *might* be an intruder. If you do, and you make a mistake, then it is appropriate for you to be presented with the evidence of your mistake, your folly, and your ultimate hubris.

When I lived there in the 80s and 90s, I met hundreds of his type. A high preponderance of racists and misogynists.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. He should look at it every day for the rest of his life.

[SoapBox]

8. Just say'n...

Really? Cold blooded killer or it was all an accident...he should be expected to stare at the grisly photos to prove his "innocence"?

This whole thing makes no sense to me...if he would not look, guilty...if he stared at them, guilty.

[colorado_ufo]

9. That poor girl's mother!

No one should have endured what she did; they should have had her leave the room. Heartless!!!

[warrant46]

10. This whole drama is just a distraction to Mezmerize the Sheep

DILIGAF comes to mind repeatedly