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Pistorius Murder Trial Set to Open Pistorius Murder Trial Set to Open
(35 minutes later)
PRETORIA, South Africa — Flanked by members of his defense team, Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee track star accused of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, arrived at a courtroom here on Monday for the opening of a trial expected to be watched by millions around the globe.PRETORIA, South Africa — Flanked by members of his defense team, Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee track star accused of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, arrived at a courtroom here on Monday for the opening of a trial expected to be watched by millions around the globe.
The start of the trial was delayed for at least an hour for unexplained reasons.
According to testimony in preliminary hearings, Mr. Pistorius fired four shots through a closed bathroom door in the predawn hours of Feb. 14, 2013, at his home in Pretoria. At least three bullets struck Ms. Steenkamp, vaulting Mr. Pistorius into the notorious ranks of celebrity murder defendants.According to testimony in preliminary hearings, Mr. Pistorius fired four shots through a closed bathroom door in the predawn hours of Feb. 14, 2013, at his home in Pretoria. At least three bullets struck Ms. Steenkamp, vaulting Mr. Pistorius into the notorious ranks of celebrity murder defendants.
Defense lawyers have portrayed Ms. Steenkamp’s death as a tragic accident, but prosecutors have not accepted his explanation that he believed he was shooting a burglar. South Africa is plagued by violent crime, and home invasions are a common fear.Defense lawyers have portrayed Ms. Steenkamp’s death as a tragic accident, but prosecutors have not accepted his explanation that he believed he was shooting a burglar. South Africa is plagued by violent crime, and home invasions are a common fear.
Earlier in the case, Mr. Pistorius, 27, said in an affidavit that he was terrified. Vulnerable without his prosthetic legs, he rashly fired through the bathroom door, only to realize that he had killed his girlfriend.Earlier in the case, Mr. Pistorius, 27, said in an affidavit that he was terrified. Vulnerable without his prosthetic legs, he rashly fired through the bathroom door, only to realize that he had killed his girlfriend.
There is no death penalty in South Africa, but premeditated murder carries a minimum sentence of 25 years.There is no death penalty in South Africa, but premeditated murder carries a minimum sentence of 25 years.
Wearing a dark suit and black tie, Mr. Pistorius perched on a cushion as he awaited the start of the trial, closely watched by June Steenkamp, the mother of the victim, who has told South African reporters that she wants him to look her in the eye. Wearing a dark suit and black tie, Mr. Pistorius perched on a cushion as he awaited the start of the trial, closely watched by June Steenkamp, the mother of the victim, who has told South African reporters that she wants him to look her in the eye. “Oscar’s Date With Destiny” ran a headline in red ink on the front page of the Pretoria News on Monday.
After more than a year of preparation, during which Mr. Pistorius has mostly been free on bail, more than 100 witnesses may be called, including forensics and ballistics experts.After more than a year of preparation, during which Mr. Pistorius has mostly been free on bail, more than 100 witnesses may be called, including forensics and ballistics experts.
But only one person, Judge Thokozile Masipa, rather than a jury, will decide his guilt or innocence. A former crime reporter, Judge Masipa is known locally for handing down long sentences in cases of crimes against women. Because there are no jury trials in South Africa, the judge, Thokozile Masipa, will decide his guilt or innocence. A former crime reporter, Judge Masipa is known locally for handing down long sentences in cases of crimes against women.
Reporters from around the world have gathered to cover what has become a lurid spectacle, with leaked images of the tiny, blood-spattered bathroom where Ms. Steenkamp was killed broadcast on television.Reporters from around the world have gathered to cover what has become a lurid spectacle, with leaked images of the tiny, blood-spattered bathroom where Ms. Steenkamp was killed broadcast on television.
The drama has been compared to the O.J. Simpson case that transfixed Americans in the 1990s, another instance of a high profile and beloved athlete accused of murdering a woman in his life.The drama has been compared to the O.J. Simpson case that transfixed Americans in the 1990s, another instance of a high profile and beloved athlete accused of murdering a woman in his life.
The athlete and the model were a celebrity couple in South Africa. Known as Blade Runner for the flexible, sickle-shaped carbon-fiber prosthetic legs he uses to compete, Mr. Pistorius achieved worldwide fame by challenging able-bodied athletes. Ms. Steenkamp, who was 29 at the time of her death, was a budding reality television star, a model and a law school graduate when bullets struck her in the head, arm and hip.The athlete and the model were a celebrity couple in South Africa. Known as Blade Runner for the flexible, sickle-shaped carbon-fiber prosthetic legs he uses to compete, Mr. Pistorius achieved worldwide fame by challenging able-bodied athletes. Ms. Steenkamp, who was 29 at the time of her death, was a budding reality television star, a model and a law school graduate when bullets struck her in the head, arm and hip.
After the killing, though, news reports built a different portrait of Mr. Pistorius — that of a reckless, jealous young man with a passion for guns and a history of mishandling them. Ms. Steenkamp told her mother that they had been fighting a lot, according to some news reports.After the killing, though, news reports built a different portrait of Mr. Pistorius — that of a reckless, jealous young man with a passion for guns and a history of mishandling them. Ms. Steenkamp told her mother that they had been fighting a lot, according to some news reports.
His trial will be a highly public test for the South African justice system, even more so after a South African judge ruled last week that much of it would be broadcast live on television. Live images of testimony by Mr. Pistorius and witnesses called by his defense team will not be aired, but the audio from all hearings will be broadcast, Judge Dunstan Mlambo said, arguing that his ruling would counter the widespread belief in South Africa that the rich were handled “with kid gloves,” while the judicial system was “harsh on the poor and vulnerable.”His trial will be a highly public test for the South African justice system, even more so after a South African judge ruled last week that much of it would be broadcast live on television. Live images of testimony by Mr. Pistorius and witnesses called by his defense team will not be aired, but the audio from all hearings will be broadcast, Judge Dunstan Mlambo said, arguing that his ruling would counter the widespread belief in South Africa that the rich were handled “with kid gloves,” while the judicial system was “harsh on the poor and vulnerable.”
The prosecution may have an uphill battle against Mr. Pistorius’s expensive team of lawyers and experts after the lead investigator on the case, Detective Warrant Officer Hilton Botha, resigned last year, acknowledging mistakes in the police work. A magistrate later said he had “blundered” in gathering evidence. News emerged that he faced attempted murder charges himself.The prosecution may have an uphill battle against Mr. Pistorius’s expensive team of lawyers and experts after the lead investigator on the case, Detective Warrant Officer Hilton Botha, resigned last year, acknowledging mistakes in the police work. A magistrate later said he had “blundered” in gathering evidence. News emerged that he faced attempted murder charges himself.
Mr. Pistorius was born without fibulas and had both legs amputated below the knee before he was a year old, but he fought for the right to compete at the highest levels of international sport.Mr. Pistorius was born without fibulas and had both legs amputated below the knee before he was a year old, but he fought for the right to compete at the highest levels of international sport.
As a sprinter, he won two gold medals and a silver at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London after challenging able-bodied athletes at the Olympics a few weeks earlier, though without winning medals.As a sprinter, he won two gold medals and a silver at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London after challenging able-bodied athletes at the Olympics a few weeks earlier, though without winning medals.
The repercussions continue to echo for family and friends of Ms. Steenkamp. Her father, Barry Steenkamp, reportedly suffered a serious stroke recently while reading a newspaper article about the case.The repercussions continue to echo for family and friends of Ms. Steenkamp. Her father, Barry Steenkamp, reportedly suffered a serious stroke recently while reading a newspaper article about the case.
Last month, Mr. Pistorius issued a statement on his website in which he called the killing a “devastating accident.”Last month, Mr. Pistorius issued a statement on his website in which he called the killing a “devastating accident.”
“The pain and sadness — especially for Reeva’s parents, family and friends consumes me with sorrow,” he wrote. “The loss of Reeva and the complete trauma of that day, I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”“The pain and sadness — especially for Reeva’s parents, family and friends consumes me with sorrow,” he wrote. “The loss of Reeva and the complete trauma of that day, I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”