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As spring dawns on the Southern hemisphere on the 1st of September one can't but help think of the verdict to be delivered on 11 September in the Oscar Pistorius Trial.
I remember being glued on my twitter account whilst the bail proceeding took place. It became the hot topic, even in the local pub where conversations normally revolved around sports. Suddenly everyone became an expert. Even at the bail hearing I was being swayed from one side to the other, whether he killed intentionally or whether it was a terrible accident.
This September will see an end to all speculation but not an end to opinions and debates or jokes in bad taste. Lives have forever been altered, Reeva's ended on Valentine's day 2013.
But what are the positives of the Oscar Pistorius Trial?
1.) The average man on the street got an insight into the legal process. Normally the average man on the street only get's to know about the process when being a witness, victim or accused.
2.) The world thinks that South Africa has a competent legal system with competent judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys like Masipa, Nel and Roux . It should be easier to extradite other criminals back to South Africa to face trial.
3.) Some confidence was restored in the SAPS with witnesses like ballistic expert Mangena's testimony although damaged by other members like WO Hilton Botha.
4.) We realised that there is life after the SAPS and that one may purport to be an expert in all different kinds of fields. (Some career guidance for the younger viewers.)
5.) The trial surely serves as a warning to gun owners to better understand when they may or may not use their weapons to defend lives.
6.) Maybe a few woman are still alive today because there would be killer husbands or boyfriends would have realised that after the act there will be justice to be faced.
Try as I might, searching for positives I am at the end of writing this reminded of the untimely death of a beautiful young woman in the prime of her life. Reeva Steenkamp was June and Barry Steenkamp, from Port Elizabeth's daughter.
I fear that the positives of the trial or the final verdict of the trial will do little to console them. I for one hope it at least does not disappoint them.
I sincerely hope that they will one day receive the heartfelt apology they never received.
I remember being glued on my twitter account whilst the bail proceeding took place. It became the hot topic, even in the local pub where conversations normally revolved around sports. Suddenly everyone became an expert. Even at the bail hearing I was being swayed from one side to the other, whether he killed intentionally or whether it was a terrible accident.
This September will see an end to all speculation but not an end to opinions and debates or jokes in bad taste. Lives have forever been altered, Reeva's ended on Valentine's day 2013.
But what are the positives of the Oscar Pistorius Trial?
1.) The average man on the street got an insight into the legal process. Normally the average man on the street only get's to know about the process when being a witness, victim or accused.
2.) The world thinks that South Africa has a competent legal system with competent judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys like Masipa, Nel and Roux . It should be easier to extradite other criminals back to South Africa to face trial.
3.) Some confidence was restored in the SAPS with witnesses like ballistic expert Mangena's testimony although damaged by other members like WO Hilton Botha.
4.) We realised that there is life after the SAPS and that one may purport to be an expert in all different kinds of fields. (Some career guidance for the younger viewers.)
5.) The trial surely serves as a warning to gun owners to better understand when they may or may not use their weapons to defend lives.
6.) Maybe a few woman are still alive today because there would be killer husbands or boyfriends would have realised that after the act there will be justice to be faced.
Try as I might, searching for positives I am at the end of writing this reminded of the untimely death of a beautiful young woman in the prime of her life. Reeva Steenkamp was June and Barry Steenkamp, from Port Elizabeth's daughter.
I fear that the positives of the trial or the final verdict of the trial will do little to console them. I for one hope it at least does not disappoint them.
I sincerely hope that they will one day receive the heartfelt apology they never received.
