Pistorius and Press Reporting

UPDATE
Notwithstanding the seriousness of the allegation, Oscar Pistorius has now successfully challenged his bail conditions on appeal and is free to travel abroad to compete again. Whether he is physically and psychologically fit to undertake such activity is another matter, although making the application suggests that Pistorius has been able to shrug this matter aside. What he may well not have bargained for is the level of hostility towards him overseas. It will be interesting to see whether any promoter is ghoulish enough to want to benefit from the 'notoriety' now attached to this athlete. It looks like another media fest is about to begin.

This article first appeared in the Leicester Mercury on the 2^nd March 2013.

Oscar Pistorius was abusive and possessive, his paranoia fuelled by illegal drugs. He snapped reading texts from his pregnant girlfriend’s former Springbok boyfriend, smashed her skull with an implement before shooting her four times as she cowered behind a bathroom door. 

This is the sensational story presented to the world via the media months before his trial. The true facts will only be known at a future date.

If Oscar Pistorius was being tried in this country, I would be able to tell you what the charges were, of his denials, that he had been granted bail, when he was next due in court and his likely trial date.

By contrast in South African almost any information is fair game, every titbit of speculation placed in the public forum, whether true or not.

As the world learnt of the fate of Reeva Steenkamp, Police were openly rubbishing press suggestions that Pistorius had accidentally shot his girlfriend mistaking her for an intruder, publicly calling this a case of premeditated murder.

Shattering my London 2012 glow, I was dismayed to ‘learn’ that illegal steroids had been recovered, that Reeva’s skull had been caved in and that a ‘bloodied cricket bat’ was present at the crime scene.

The steroids evidence was presented at the bail hearing, but unforgivably it was erroneous. Police had not done their homework; the drugs were neither steroids nor illegal. For three days I had believed that Pistorius was a drug cheat and accepted the theory that the steroids had turned him into an aggressive killer.

Magistrate Nair broadcast his bail decision to the world including his serious misgivings about the credibility of Pistorius’ case. I am incredulous that the defence had put their case in the public domain, and that the judge had publicly expressed misgivings about it, at such an early stage of the process.

On a charge of murder in England, the Crown Court bail hearing would have been held in private, lasted, at most, 30 minutes to an hour, and would not have been the subject of detailed press reporting.

Owing to our Contempt of Court Act little more would be known by the time the matter came before a jury here, leaving them genuinely in a position to honour their oath to try the case according to the evidence presented in court. The jury system in the UK is honest, not easily abused and has withstood the test of history. It is the proper way to do justice. South Africa abolished jury trial in 1969. One judge will have to perform the mental gymnastics required to sift the evidence from the prejudicial pre trial chatter.
UPDATE 11.3.13
The BBC plan to broadcast a programme examining the events surrounding the death of Reeva Steenkamp this evening. Pistorius is described by a close family friend as a 'broken man' and 'possibly suicidal'. He is also said to be selling off assets, such as racehorses, to fund a 'war chest' for his legal fees. Incredibly he is reported as saying to Police officers upon arrest 'I will survive. I always win'.
 The media fest continues!