Oscar Pistorius: Burden of Truth
Tragic mistake or premeditated murder?
After the death of Reeva Steenkamp at the hands of Oscar Pistorius, the question remains: was it a tragic mistake or premeditated murder? This report unpicks the forensic investigation at the heart of the case.
"The entire trial will be fought on one issue: intention", says criminal law professor Steve Tuson. A man who overcame all obstacles to become an international icon, Oscar Pistorius used words like "horror", "fear" and "grave danger" to describe his state of mind on that fateful night. Disabled, subject to death threats and living in a nation where a sense of ever-present danger is said to have altered the national psyche, his defence will claim Oscar thought he was protecting Reeva from an intruder. An analysis of bullet entry, blood spatter and mobile phone evidence will help distinguish lies from cold facts. "Innocence or guilt can hang on a tiny detail", says Tuson.
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