Blade Killer

      Oscar Pistorius— famed Olympic athlete. Paralympic hero. Murderer.

I’m sure that if you have the capacity to access this relatively small blog, then you’ve probably read about the Blade Runner tragedy. He was arrested about a week ago on the account of the premeditated murder of his 29 year old girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, an aspiring model and actress. But as I went through the case, I couldn’t help but think, where’s the preferential treatment?

The justice system is supposed to be of equality and fair representation, especially in particularly developed systems like the American justice system and South Africa’s— yet we find individuals placed above it all the time (if you want to read about South Africa’s Justice System, follow this link, there are many differences in this case proceeding).

The example that you can’t miss: O.J Simpson. He was held on trial on account for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman— facing a potential death sentence. Yet, he was found not guilty in a case that seemed to have insurmountable evidence piled against him, including a pair of his socks with Nicole Brown’s blood spattered on them. Upon his acquittal he wrote a book titled “If I Did It”, outlining the steps he would’ve taken had he committed the murders. Celebrity won big in a place where fame has no place— the justice system.

       And there are a number of examples that follow the same storyline— Ray Lewis, the Baltimore Raven’s star was charged with double murder and walked. Leonard Little, a St. Louis Rams linebacker was actually convicted with the DUI-murder of Susan Gutweiler, because he rammed into her car after running a red light under the influence.  And it seems that Pistorius’s case might just be taking the same turn.

           

    Analysts and experts have taken a close look at the evidence and the stories, and although there is always room for debate, an ostensible glance at the forensics doesn’t bode well for Pistorius. New York City Attorney Tom Harvey said, looking just at the forensic evidence, that the guy is guilty as hell.” His story sounds pretty incredulous— that he shot her through a door because he feared it was an intruder that had come through an open window and locked them self in the bathroom (here’s more for a better understanding of his story). First, for someone who claims that they’re incredibly paranoid of neighborhood crime, why would the door be open? Second, how could you not know that your girlfriend was no longer in your bed next to you, the place that both sides stipulated she was moments before the murder? And third, why would he have any reason to believe that a thief would hide in a bathroom, and not even look to make sure it was his girlfriend? And whether you side with me or not, there’s clearly not enough evidence for him to put grant him the bail he just recently received.

            Ultimately, we can only hope that justice is served, whatever way that may be— but without a bias for the Olympic hero, or for that matter, although unforeseeable, against him. Although, as the proceedings look now, it seems that the special treatment world class athletes receive in the courtroom hasn’t lost its touch in South Africa.