The moment of truth beckons for Oscar Pistorius. The Olympic and Paralympic star sat as if lost in his own world as lawyers debated what was in his mind when he shot dead his girlfriend.
A knife-edge ruling on whether Pistorius will be granted bail and released, or denied it and probably sent to prison, is expected on Friday.
The unenviable decision lies with magistrate Desmond Nair, who faces criticism either way. If he grants bail, he will anger gender violence campaigners who are pushing for Pistorius to remain in custody. If he refuses, Pistorius's well-organised PR machine is unlikely to take it quietly.
On Thursday, seemingly testing the water, Nair asked defence advocate Barry Roux about the South African public mood. There was outrage on both sides, Roux replied, and "you can see the sentiment changing all the time".
Nair pressed: "Do you think there will be some level of shock if the accused is released?" Roux said: "I think there will be a level of shock in this country if he is not released." There were murmurs of support from Pistorius's family in the public gallery.
The runner's haunted expression and periodic fits of tears that have been at the centre of courtroom C in Pretoria magistrates' court this week were in evidence again on day three of this drawn-out bail hearing, along with the now-familiar grey suit, blue shirt and dark tie. But the 26-year-old's brother, Carl, wearing glasses and a striped jacket, seemed energised as he walked through the public gallery, shaking the hands of supporters. He spent long periods looking down at an iPhone and has begun using the Twitter account @carlpistorius to comment on the case.
ENTIRE ARTICLE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/21/oscar-pistorius-case-jail-bail
A knife-edge ruling on whether Pistorius will be granted bail and released, or denied it and probably sent to prison, is expected on Friday.
The unenviable decision lies with magistrate Desmond Nair, who faces criticism either way. If he grants bail, he will anger gender violence campaigners who are pushing for Pistorius to remain in custody. If he refuses, Pistorius's well-organised PR machine is unlikely to take it quietly.
On Thursday, seemingly testing the water, Nair asked defence advocate Barry Roux about the South African public mood. There was outrage on both sides, Roux replied, and "you can see the sentiment changing all the time".
Nair pressed: "Do you think there will be some level of shock if the accused is released?" Roux said: "I think there will be a level of shock in this country if he is not released." There were murmurs of support from Pistorius's family in the public gallery.
The runner's haunted expression and periodic fits of tears that have been at the centre of courtroom C in Pretoria magistrates' court this week were in evidence again on day three of this drawn-out bail hearing, along with the now-familiar grey suit, blue shirt and dark tie. But the 26-year-old's brother, Carl, wearing glasses and a striped jacket, seemed energised as he walked through the public gallery, shaking the hands of supporters. He spent long periods looking down at an iPhone and has begun using the Twitter account @carlpistorius to comment on the case.
ENTIRE ARTICLE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/21/oscar-pistorius-case-jail-bail
It seems slightly strange that Mr. Pistorius would jump to the conclusion that who he heard in his house going into the washroom was an intruder rather than just his girlfriend going to the washroom. And if he did believe it was an intruder, why would he take such drastic measure as to shoot them three times? There was also a witness that lived nearby who said that they heard a fight “two people talking loudly at each other" late in the night on February 14th. The girlfriend also locked the door of the washroom before being shot, that seems unordinary for someone living with just their boyfriend to do, especially at 2:00 am. In the past, Mr. Pistorius has been described as violent and unstable. To me, it seems as though there’s more to it than just a simple misunderstanding.
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