Oscar Pistorius is not going down without a fight. At least, he’s trying to piece together a plausible explanation - other than premeditated murder - for how he shot and killed his girlfriend in his home last week. After his attorneys issued statements to the effect that they would be disputing the charges against Pistorius, his version of the events of that night have emerged. Pistorius now claims that he shot Steenkamp accidentally, after mistaking her for an intruder.
Unfortunately for Pistorius, however, the police had already been to his home a mere two hours prior to the shooting, allegedly because a domestic dispute between the two. Assuming that timeline is accurate, it is going to be very difficult for Pistorius’ attorneys to convince a judge or jury that the former Olympian shot his girlfriend four times by accident. Police now believe Steenkamp was shot four times through a locked bathroom door and that she was wearing a nightgown at the time.
Prosecutors in the case will be able to ask the obvious questions, such as how it’s possible that Pistorius would immediately start shooting a suspected "intruder" if Steenkamp was confirmed to have been in the home just a couple hours before. Pistorius’ attorneys are pointing to the fact that he called a friend immediately after the shooting to say that he had accidentally shot Steenkamp. Of course, prosecutors will question why Pistorius would first call anyone other than emergency services to help his dying girlfriend. Without knowing all the details of the case, the story from Pistorius would seem to be a desperate attempt to force prosecutors to "prove" that he actually killed Steenkamp intentionally. Yet given his status as a national hero, placing that additional burden on the prosecution may be enough to create enough doubt to allow him to remain a free man.
Unfortunately for Pistorius, however, the police had already been to his home a mere two hours prior to the shooting, allegedly because a domestic dispute between the two. Assuming that timeline is accurate, it is going to be very difficult for Pistorius’ attorneys to convince a judge or jury that the former Olympian shot his girlfriend four times by accident. Police now believe Steenkamp was shot four times through a locked bathroom door and that she was wearing a nightgown at the time.
Prosecutors in the case will be able to ask the obvious questions, such as how it’s possible that Pistorius would immediately start shooting a suspected "intruder" if Steenkamp was confirmed to have been in the home just a couple hours before. Pistorius’ attorneys are pointing to the fact that he called a friend immediately after the shooting to say that he had accidentally shot Steenkamp. Of course, prosecutors will question why Pistorius would first call anyone other than emergency services to help his dying girlfriend. Without knowing all the details of the case, the story from Pistorius would seem to be a desperate attempt to force prosecutors to "prove" that he actually killed Steenkamp intentionally. Yet given his status as a national hero, placing that additional burden on the prosecution may be enough to create enough doubt to allow him to remain a free man.