Author Archives: edimminger

Blade Runner Trial – Day 15

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Interesting texts from Reeva were shown today- here are some parts:

1.  “I get snapped at and told my accents and my voice are annoying. i touch your neck to show u i care you tell me to stop. Stop chewing gum. do this don’t do that.”

2. “I’m scared of you sometimes and how you snap at me… I do everything to make u happy and to not say anything to rock the boat with u. you do everything to throw tantrums in front of people.”

3. “u are very quick to act cold and offish when you’re unhappy… every 5 seconds i hear how u dated another chick.”

4. “i am the girl who let go with u even when i was scared out of my mind to. i’m the girl who feel in love with u and wanted to tell u this weekend.”

Also today a neighbor agreed with previous testimony that she heard a female scream then a male and then 3 shots. The defense said it was not a female, but Pistorius screaming and the shots were actually the bat hitting the door. The witness stuck to her story. For more here’s the link:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/oscar-pistorius-made-girlfriend-scared-mind-text-claims/story?id=23032174

Blade Runner Trial – Day 14

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The ballistics expert took the court through the series of bullets shot by Pistorius into the bathroom where Reeva was. He claimed that Reeva was standing when she was first hit in the right hip. She then fell back and was hit in the right arm and head as she tried to protect herself with her arms over her head. The fourth bullet that struck her in the head killed her. This means she would have screamed after the first non-fatal wounds. The defense disagrees but this is in alignment with the pathologist. Pistorius is expected to testify next week.

Link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/oscar-pistorius-trial-reeva-steenkamp-crossed-her-arms-above-her-head-to-protect-herself-from-bullets-fired-through-locked-toilet-door-9201601.html

Blade Runner Trial – Day 13

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After testimony today the prosecutor, Gerrie Nel asked for the trial to be delayed until next week. Friday is a holiday in South Africa. There was testimony today from a ballistics expert who described how Reeva was standing in the bathroom when hit by the first bullets. He continued with how he felt the rest of the assault unfolded. As expected the defense badgered the officer but the officer stuck to his story. Pistorius put his fingers in his ears during this testimony.

Link: http://espn.go.com/olympics/trackandfield/story/_/id/10631711/expert-testifies-oscar-pistorius-girlfriend-was-standing-shot

Arias Re-Trial Date Set

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We finally have a date. It’s September. Yes, I said September! I was so floored by this I googled: “Jodi Arias” just to check other sources. And there it was. Are you f’n kidding me? How far can they possibly push this back? I thought this thing would be over by now. Six months from now? Why? They say jury selection will begin September 8th but I don’t believe anything they say anymore so don’t book a flight just yet.

Thanks to a Tweet from @WitchyTweets for the heads up or I would have missed this great news…

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/17/jodi-arias-penalty-phase_n_4980306.html

 

Blade Runner Trial – Day 12

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On Tuesday the Captain of Police demonstrated how the bullets went through the bathroom door using lasers. Before he could compare the height of the entry holes with the height of Pistorius without his prosthetics they ran out of time. Most of today was spent with a police crime scene photographer. The defense caught him up when he pointed out there were two people shooting in the same room, after the photographer claimed he was alone. I don’t see this as a big win for the defense. The defense lawyer, Roux, also brought in a statement from another officer saying the blood evidence supports Pistorius’ version. For more here’s the link:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/18/world/africa/oscar-pistorius-trial/

Blade Runner Trial – Day 11

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Monday Sean Rens, a firearms expert, said Pistorius had “a great love and enthusiasm” for guns. He spoke about how Pistorius went into ‘combat mode’ when he heard a noise in his house (in the laundry room). Rens also said Pistorius knew not to shoot at someone unless they had were approaching with a firearm. Apparently Pistorius had applied for licenses for six other guns. Also photos were shown of a couple of odd things found in the bedroom: “Testis Compositum” (for muscle recovery, fatigue and sex drive) and “Coenzyme Composition” (?) along with syringes. There were scuff marks on the end of his prosthetic limbs.

Blade Runner Trial – Day 10

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The defense scored some points today as the former police colonel, G.S. Van Rensburg, was on the stand. Rensburg described several problems that came up including a detective handling the gun without gloves, one of Pistorius’s watches went missing, and the bathroom door was supposed to have been bagged and sent to his office. Rensburg had to resign from the force in December for mishandling the door after 30 years as an officer. Roux (defense lawyer) also brought up the statements of three police officers whose accounts differed with Rensburg’s. When prosecutor Gerrie Nel ran through some photos Pistorius kept his head down.

Blade Runner Trial – Day 9

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Pistorius got sick again today (twice) when the pics of poor Reeva were shown briefly, prompting HLN’s Vinnie Politan to Tweet: “Do you believe he was really sick?” After yesterday’s witness finished up today about the damages to the bathroom door, there were 2 police investigators on the stand. First up was G.S. Van Rensberg, who arrived after the paramedics. Reeva was already dead. Photos were shown of the blood trail down the stairs and the gun as well as other evidence. Along with the cricket bat there was a key to the inner door of the bathroom. The second officer, Vermeulen, demonstrated how he believed Pistorius swung the bat against the door. He, like yesterday’s witness, also concluded that Pistorius was on his stumps. As expected the defense attorney Roux tried to discredit both officers.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/13/world/africa/oscar-pistorius-trial/

Blade Runner Trial – Day 8

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Interesting day today. It started with a friend of the defendant testifying to the gun incidents described in yesterday’s post (Pistorius shot a gun off at a restaurant and after caught speeding). Then a police expert came on to testify to the marks on the bathroom door. He asserted that the shots were fired first and then Pistorius tried to break down the door. The expert said he was on his stumps at the time. (This surprised me as the prosecution was claiming before that he had his legs on during the shooting due to the trajectory of the bullets). Pistorius claims he had on his prosthetic legs when he broke down the door with a cricket bat. The defense countered with the possibility of part of a sock being left on the door from him kicking it. The defense also claimed the police mishandled the evidence. Pistorius took notes and drew pictures during the testimony and covered his eyes when they showed pictures of the blood spattered door.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/11/world/africa/oscar-pistorius-trial/www.cnn.com/2014/03/12/world/africa/oscar-pistorius-trial/

Blade Runner Trial- Day 7

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Testimony continued with the pathologist today who continued to speak on the autopsy. He also confirmed that Reeva would have been able to scream after the first two bullets. She also had eaten two hours earlier- this is not in line with what Pistorius claims.

Most of today we heard from a friend of Pistorius, Darren Fresco, who went over the occasions when Pistorious fired his gun. He spoke about the incident where Pistorius shot through the roof after the police stopped him and handled his gun. Fresco claimed that Pistorius was ‘furious about it, that someone else had touched his gun.’ He also testified about the gun incident in the restaurant where Pistorius shot the gun and asked him to take the blame. Later the defense got on Fresco for using Twitter and possibly listening to previous testimony.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/11/world/africa/oscar-pistorius-trial/