Some Oscar-winning lessons
FORGET about the technical details of bullet trajectories and forensic science in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial. If you looked closely, as our eagle-eyed reporters have, you will find some hidden lessons in the “trial of the century”. Sensitive readers, be warned, the following is not to be taken seriously.
When you hear something strange, you ask: Several couples have testified about what they heard that morning. All of them have at least one element in common — when the one partner heard a loud noise, he or she immediately asked the other whether they had heard the same. Everyone, that is, except Pistorius.
Roger Dixon’s beer-drinking pal also thinks he is no expert. Scientist and jack of all trades Dixon is not an expert in the field of ballistics. This is straight from the mouth of fellow defence witness Tom “Wollie” Wolmarans when asked whether he and Dixon discussed the case over a beer after the latter’s harrowing crossexamination. We hope Dixon made Wolmarans pay for the beverage.
Pistorius has a weak stomach: This may sound insensitive, but if you have been subjected to the athlete’s retching in court, you are allowed an opinion. It transpired this week that his weak stomach and tendency to vomit was not limited to this trial. A social worker testified he lost his lunch while in the holding cells during his bail application. And, said Wolmarans, when he accidentally showed a graphic picture during a consultation with the legal team, Pistorius lost it again.
When it comes to Pistorius, people will believe anything: A social worker came forward to testify after she was upset by media reports claiming Pistorius had taken acting lessons to exaggerate his apparent grief. Many in the media also repeated this claim. It is perhaps wise to point out that the claim was made by Jani Allan, a former columnist of this newspaper remembered for her dalliance with Eugene Terre Blanche. Allan claimed to have a reliable source who told her this. Last we heard she was waitressing in New Jersey.
The ANC Women’s League is generous, but its members seem lacking in court etiquette: It recently emerged the league was paying for June Steenkamp’s accommodation while she has been attending the trial. That is kind of them. But then a member became the first person to be ordered out of court after forgetting to switch off her cellphone. It did not help that her ring tone was that of a car engine.