The Oscar Pistorius trial is winding down in day 23 with Pistorius being grilled by the prosecutor. Unfortunately for Pistorius, the trial is taking a twist and turn for the worse for him. It first started with him crying, vomiting and other emotional outcries in court earlier in the trial. He composed himself enough to take the witness stand in his own defense. The facts of the case are quite simple and yet emotional. Pistorius shot 4 shots through a closed and locked bathroom on the early morning hours of February 14 thinking an intruder had come into the house, while he and his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp were sleeping. The shots killed Reeva Steenkamp. Key witnesses for the prosecution stated they heard screaming and arguing earlier in the evening, coming from Pistorius’ home. Others testified they heard one shot, a pause and then a woman scream followed by other shots. Pistorius is sticking with his story that his fear caused him to get up and reach for his gun and start firing—at unknown intruders, through the closed and locked bathroom door.
There are so many holes in Pistorius’ defense. Most people can see right through them. And if this were not a real murder case, it would be laughable. But it is not laughing matter when someone’s life is taken. Fear can cause one to do irrational things. And if Pistorius was alone in the house, the shooting at a closed door in the middle of the night after hearing noises would make better sense. It is far too irrational to think that he was protecting Reeva and then didn’t bother to tell her to hide for fear of intruders in the house. It is even more irrational to think that an intruder would hide or use the bathroom while burglarizing it.
Ironically Reeva Steenkamp may be her best witness. On prior occasions, she text Oscar about his jealousy. Apparently, according to text messages, there were earlier arguments between the two due to Oscar’s jealousy. And those text messages were read into evidence. Her words chillingly fit the description of what probably happened. In her texts, she said that he scared her due to his jealousy and emotional temper outbursts. And it is more likely that something caused him to become jealous or emotional on the early morning hours of February 14. The more believable version is Reeva retreated and locked herself in the bathroom following one of those heated moments. This time, Oscar did not calm down. Instead his anger led him to shoot through a door, killing Reeva. While this is theory, judges and juries are allowed to use their common sense. And the one thing that is troubling that can’t be explained by Oscar is why the bathroom door was locked in the home of Reeva’s lover. A locked door clearly infers that Reeva did not want Oscar to enter.
This case has domestic violence written all over it. And Oscar’s emotional outbursts, tears, vomiting and crying in court are reminders of domestic abusers who always feel sorry after an abusive incident. I believe Oscar Pistorious feels remorse for his killing of Reeva. Most domestic abusers always say they feel remorse after an outbreak of violence. And then the pattern repeats.
For Reeva, the likely volatile pattern unfortunately ended on February 14. On a day proclaimed for lovers, Valentine’s Day, Reeva’s lover shot and killed her. And now he’s sorry. That won’t bring Reeva back to life. But her text words along with the evidence may just help prove her lover guilty of her murder.
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