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In today’s court hearing at Pretoria High Court, athlete Oscar Pistorius
stunned everyone when he removed his prosthetic limbs and walked round
the courtroom in a desperate emotional bid by him and his defense team
to prove to the Judge that he didn’t intentionally murder ex-girlfriend
Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.
stunned everyone when he removed his prosthetic limbs and walked round
the courtroom in a desperate emotional bid by him and his defense team
to prove to the Judge that he didn’t intentionally murder ex-girlfriend
Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.
The South African runner was asked to take off his artificial legs by
his defence attorney Barry Roux who said it will be โembarrassingโ for
his client.
his defence attorney Barry Roux who said it will be โembarrassingโ for
his client.
The weeping athlete removed his prostheses and began to walk in
court
where he appeared to be in pain and struggled to maintain his balance.
He held onto a desk for support as Mr Roux pointed at him and said this
was a man who was frightened by a noise at 3am.
court
where he appeared to be in pain and struggled to maintain his balance.
He held onto a desk for support as Mr Roux pointed at him and said this
was a man who was frightened by a noise at 3am.
His
t-shirt wet with sweat and his red eyes filled with tears, Pistorius
paused at the side of the court to remove his prosthetic limbs in the
full view of the packed court as his defense counsel argued that he was
too weak emotionally to serve a prison sentence .
t-shirt wet with sweat and his red eyes filled with tears, Pistorius
paused at the side of the court to remove his prosthetic limbs in the
full view of the packed court as his defense counsel argued that he was
too weak emotionally to serve a prison sentence .
”We donโt have to be psychologistsโ to see Pistorius is a broken man,Defense lawyer Roux tells the Judge.
Roux
points out that Pistoriusโ original planned release from prison โ
approved by the parole board โ was delayed after a government minister
intervened. This has not happened to anyone else, he says. Why wait
until that last minute to intervene? That decision could have been made
weeks earlier.
points out that Pistoriusโ original planned release from prison โ
approved by the parole board โ was delayed after a government minister
intervened. This has not happened to anyone else, he says. Why wait
until that last minute to intervene? That decision could have been made
weeks earlier.
‘No other accused has
ever had to endure this level of publicity, misinformation and character
assassination.’ Defence counsel Roux said in quotes gotten from
Guardian UK.
ever had to endure this level of publicity, misinformation and character
assassination.’ Defence counsel Roux said in quotes gotten from
Guardian UK.
‘This case has nothing to do with gender violence.’
Roux THEN calls Pistorius forward. He tells the court this will be embarrassing for his client.
He
asks a weeping Pistorius to remove his prostheses and stand on his
stumps in front of the court. He does so slowly, then walks haltingly.
He appears to be in pain and struggles to retain his balance. He holds
on to a desk for support.
asks a weeping Pistorius to remove his prostheses and stand on his
stumps in front of the court. He does so slowly, then walks haltingly.
He appears to be in pain and struggles to retain his balance. He holds
on to a desk for support.
His doctor moves forward to support him as he stumbles.
Roux points to him, saying ‘this is the man who was frightened by a noise at 3am. This is who is being sentenced.’
‘I
donโt want to overplay vulnerability, thatโs not what I want to do. I
donโt want to overplay disability. But the time has come that we must
just look with different eyes, at least with unbiased eyes.’
donโt want to overplay vulnerability, thatโs not what I want to do. I
donโt want to overplay disability. But the time has come that we must
just look with different eyes, at least with unbiased eyes.’
‘It doesnโt mean because heโs vulnerable that he can do what he likes. Thatโs not what we say.
‘But
when weโre entering the field of sentencing, look at that manโs conduct
โฆ Please letโs understand โฆ who is this man that you must sentence?’
when weโre entering the field of sentencing, look at that manโs conduct
โฆ Please letโs understand โฆ who is this man that you must sentence?’
‘He
desperately does not want to hide behind fame โฆ He wants to be treated
like someone unknown, someone who has done wrong and must be punished.’
desperately does not want to hide behind fame โฆ He wants to be treated
like someone unknown, someone who has done wrong and must be punished.’
‘Punishment
is not meant to break the defendant โฆ The accused does not fall into
the category of offender who should be removed from society.’
is not meant to break the defendant โฆ The accused does not fall into
the category of offender who should be removed from society.’
‘There is no purpose served.’
‘The sentence needs to be appropriate to the individual,’ defence counsel says.
‘The court needs to look for opportunities for rehabilitation. An excessive punishment could have the opposite effect’
