Valentine’s Day is usually a day filled with love, but for at least one family, it was filled with misery this year. South African Olympian Oscar Pistorious is accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, at his house in Pretoria, South Africa. This murder is truly devastating, especially since Pistorious has become a hero to so many people around the world.
Pistorious’ rise to fame came this past summer at the 2012 London Olympic Games when he became the first double amputee to compete in an able-bodied Olympic event. He made it to the 400-meter semi-final and carried the South African flag at the closing ceremonies.
Pistorious claims that he heard an intruder in his bathroom, so he grabbed his gun and walked over to the bathroom, where he proceeded to fire four rounds into the door that enclosed the toilet. He claims that he took such action because he did not have on his prosthetic legs and felt vulnerable.
Prosecutors, however, are telling a much different story. They say that Pistorious got up, put on his prosthetics, grabbed his gun, went to the bathroom and then opened fire on the bathroom door, fully aware that Steenkamp was inside.
Detective Warrant Officer Hilton Botha of the South African Police Service told the court that a witness claimed to have heard two people yelling inside Pistorious’ home earlier that night. I’m not sure if I can believe Botha, since he has already been kicked off of the case as lead detective. On Feb. 21, he was relieved of his duties from the Pistorious case, because in 2011, he was accused of seven counts of attempted murder while on the job.
So far, forensic evidence has shown that three out of the four bullets hit Steenkamp — in her right elbow, right hip and in the head, over her right ear. The shots broke her arm and hip, and, ultimately, took away her life. The evidence also shows that the trajectory of the shots was from a high angle, aimed downwards — which does not correspond to Pistorious’ claim that he did not have on his prosthetics. The prosecution believes, and I agree, that if he had the time and consciousness to put on his prosthetics, he would have been fully aware of the actions he was committing.
There are some other things that have not lined up with Pistorious’ claim that he did not know Steenkamp was out of bed. Reports show that Pistorious was sleeping on the right side of the bed, but a 9 mm gun holster was found under the left side of the bed. If this is the case, then he would have had to notice that Steenkamp was not in the bed with him.
On Feb. 19, Pistorious was formally charged with premeditated murder. On Feb. 22, he was granted bond at 1 million South African rand, which is approximately $112,800. Although some people believe that he is too dangerous to be on the street, I think that it is perfectly fine for him to be allowed bail; that’s his right.
Throughout the bail hearing, more and more evidence has been coming out. As of Sunday, detectives have also found illegal .38 caliber bullets in Pistorious’ home, along with syringes and what some people believe are steroids.
Barry Roux, Pistorius’ lead defense lawyer and former police officer claims, “It is an herbal remedy. It is not a steroid and it is not a banned substance.”
Obviously, I cannot say for sure if what they found are steroids or not, but with the amount of drug scandals circulating within the sports world recently, I would not be the least bit surprised if the supposed “herbal remedy” ended up being an illegal substance.
Pistorious has definitely put himself in an unfavorable and difficult situation, but we should not forget about the accomplishments that he has achieved in his athletic career. Just like most cases of this magnitude, we will have to sit back and wait for the decision of what is shaping up to be an extremely long, slow trial.
