Oscar Pistorius will likely get off because fear animates much of South African lives

[SidDithers]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/2013/02/19/oscar_pistorius_will_likely_get_off_because_fear_animates_much_of_south_african_lives_kelly.html

A great many South Africans will believe the general gist of Pistorius’s story, enough to arouse reasonable doubt, and certainly enough to convince them there was no premeditation, Cathal Kelly writes.

On my first night in Johannesburg, I accidentally shut the rape door behind me, trapping myself in the bedroom.

Most middle-class homes in South Africa feature ‘rape doors’ — sliding jail doors that compartmentalize a house so that no intruder can get at you if — and this is the phrase commonly used — “your perimeter is breached.”

It was funny for a minute. Then I realized that since all the windows in the bedroom were barred, I had no way to get out in case of a fire.
We phoned the couple we’d rented our pleasant bungalow from and explained the situation. The owner laughed a long time, and then said he’d be by in the morning to release me.

South Africans are afraid of many things. Fire is not one of them.

Not sure I agree with the writer, but it's an interesting take on the Pistorius case. Have we got any South African DUers that could talk about home security?

Sid

[cali]

1. he's not being tried by the white people of South Africa

[KamaAina]

2. He's being tried by a judge, not a jury

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022398647

[davidn3600]

3. I know South Africa has a lot of problems concerning violence against women

Rape and domestic violence is pretty common.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/17/south-africa-macho-society-oscar-pistorious

[HappyMe]

4. In SA you have a

trial by a judge and 2 magistrates. No jury is involved.

[joeybee12]

5. I don't know if about him getting off, however, I had also read elsewhere about

the paranoia over violence in South africa these days so this article probably is truthful in that respect...sounds like a fun place to be.

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. I don't think so.

Steenkamp was a celebrity in her own right. She was admired by many and was well-known in SA. Her own story and public following will balance a lot of the Pistorious mania there. It may not translate worldwide because her info did not extend much beyond that country.

In addition, as people have pointed out, a judge will decide on the verdict. There will be no playing to a jury trying to turn just one of them.

[riverwalker]

7. why would she lock the door?

His scenario makes no sense. Besides, the prosecutors said today, even if story were true, it is still premeditated murder, even if it really was a burgler.