Pistorius, Pretoria and Prosecutors
The trial of Oscar Pistorius for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp (The State vs Oscar
Pistorius) in the High Court of South Africa in Pretoria opened on 3 March 2014.
Pistorius was an athlete with a disability who completed in multiple Paralympic
Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics. Steenkamp, a model, was shot and killed
by Pistorius at his Pretoria home.
The trial commenced from 2014 to 2016, Judge Thokozile Masipa appointed two
assessors, Janette Henzen du Toit and Themba Mazibuko, to help her evaluate
the case and reach a verdict. During the trial, a witness (a neighbour of Pistorius)
confessed that she had heard a loud argument in the early hours of the morning
minutes before shots were fired.
Hereafter, state Prosecutor Gerrie Nel claimed that Pistorius had put on his
prosthetic legs, walked across hiss bedroom to the bathroom, and intentionally shot
Steenkamp through the door. Nel argued that the time required for this process
was sufficient to establish the that the murder was premeditated.
In 2016, Pistorius was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 15 years
imprisonment.
Pistorius continues with his life in prison – and in 2017 footage was released of how
he and a notorious and dangerous gang member were playing football in the
communal court yard
4.2 Identify and elaborate on the different role players in the abovementioned trial
process of State vs Pistorius
The different role players in the trial process of the State vs Pistorius include:
1. Oscar Pistorius: He was the accused in the trial and his defense team presented his case, striving to prove his innocence and establish reasonable doubt.
2. Reeva Steenkamp: She was the victim in the case, and her family members were present during the trial to seek justice for her.
3. Judge Thokozile Masipa: She presided over the trial as the judge and was responsible for making legal rulings, evaluating evidence, and ultimately reaching a verdict.
4. Janette Henzen du Toit and Themba Mazibuko: They were the assessors appointed by Judge Masipa to assist in evaluating the case and providing guidance in reaching a verdict.
5. Gerrie Nel: He was the state prosecutor representing the interests of the state and presenting the case against Pistorius. Nel was responsible for examining witnesses, presenting evidence, and arguing that Pistorius was guilty of murder.
6. Defense team: Pistorius was represented by a team of defense lawyers who were responsible for presenting evidence and arguments aimed at proving his innocence or reducing his charges.
7. Witnesses: Various witnesses were called upon to testify during the trial, including neighbors, experts, and friends of Pistorius and Steenkamp, among others.
8. Media: The trial received extensive media coverage, and journalists played a significant role in reporting on the proceedings and providing updates to the public.
9. Public: The public, both within South Africa and globally, followed the trial closely, expressing opinions and emotions regarding the case. Public opinion and pressure can sometimes have an influence on legal proceedings.
It is important to note that this information reflects the role players up until the end of the trial in 2016. Any developments after that are beyond the scope of the given information.
In the trial process of the State vs Pistorius, there were several key role players involved. Here is an elaboration on each of them:
1. Oscar Pistorius: He was the defendant in the trial, a South African athlete with a disability who gained international fame for competing in Paralympic Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics. Pistorius was charged with the murder of Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home.
2. Reeva Steenkamp: She was the victim in this case, a South African model who was shot and killed by Oscar Pistorius. Her tragic death sparked international attention and the subsequent trial.
3. Judge Thokozile Masipa: She presided over the trial as the judge in the High Court of South Africa in Pretoria. Judge Masipa was responsible for overseeing the proceedings, evaluating the evidence, and ultimately reaching a verdict.
4. Janette Henzen du Toit and Themba Mazibuko: They were the two assessors appointed by Judge Masipa to assist her in evaluating the case. The assessors' role was to provide their expertise and perspectives on the evidence presented during the trial.
5. State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel: He represented the state's interests in prosecuting Oscar Pistorius. Nel presented the evidence and argued that Pistorius intentionally shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp, premeditating the murder. He was responsible for building the state's case against Pistorius.
6. Defence Counsel: Pistorius had a legal team representing him, which included his defense counsel. The defense counsel's role was to present Pistorius's version of events and counter the state's arguments. They aimed to establish doubt about Pistorius's guilt in order to secure a verdict in his favor.
These role players played crucial roles in the trial process of the State vs Pistorius, each contributing to the presentation of evidence, arguments, and ultimately the determination of the verdict.
In the trial process of State vs Pistorius, there were several different role players involved. Here is an elaboration on each of them:
1. Oscar Pistorius: Pistorius was the accused in the case. He was a famous athlete with a disability who competed in various Paralympic Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics. Pistorius shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria, which led to his trial.
2. Reeva Steenkamp: Steenkamp was the victim of the crime. She was a model. Pistorius shot and killed her at his home, and her death formed the basis of the murder charge against him.
3. Judge Thokozile Masipa: Judge Masipa presided over the trial. As the judge, she had the responsibility to hear the evidence, evaluate the arguments of the prosecution and defense, and ultimately reach a verdict in the case.
4. Janette Henzen du Toit and Themba Mazibuko: These two individuals were appointed as assessors by Judge Masipa. Assessors are legal professionals who assist the judge in evaluating the case and reaching a verdict. They provide their knowledge and expertise to help the judge make an informed decision.
5. State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel: Nel was the state prosecutor representing the prosecution in the trial. His role was to present the case against Pistorius, including gathering evidence, questioning witnesses, and presenting arguments to prove Pistorius's guilt.
6. Defense Counsel: Pistorius had a team of defense lawyers who represented him. Their role was to present a defense for Pistorius, challenge the evidence presented by the prosecution, cross-examine witnesses, and create doubt regarding Pistorius's guilt.
7. Witnesses: There were several witnesses called to testify during the trial, including neighbors who heard arguments and gunshots, forensic experts who presented evidence, and individuals who had interactions with Pistorius and Steenkamp. Witnesses played a crucial role in providing their accounts of events, which helped the judge and jury in assessing the credibility of the parties involved.
These role players collectively contributed to the trial process, presenting their evidence and arguments to determine the guilt or innocence of Oscar Pistorius in the murder of Reeva Steenkamp.