Fascinating Character-- Oscar Pistorius

"The accused was, however, demonstrably one of the worst witnesses ever encountered." ~ Prosecuting attorneys against Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius is a famous South African Olympic runner who is physically challenged. He is missing the lower parts of his legs, and thus, runs in competitions using "blades." He also walks with leg prostheses.

But now he's not famous, he's infamous. For five months, Pistorius was on trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, and on September 16th, 2014, the verdict came in. GUILTY! But, it's not the Guilty that most wanted. Instead of premeditated homicide, it's culpable homicide, which carries a much lesser sentence.

While we wait for the sentencing on October, here are some fascinating facts:

• Pistorius was born without the fibula bones. Doctors amputated part of his lower limbs when he was a child.
• Pistorius ran competitively on carbon-fiber blades which, after much assertiveness with the Olympic commitee on his part, allowed him to compete in the 2012 Olympics.

photo credit: Elvar Freyr via photopin cc

• On Valentine's Day, 2013, police arrested him after he shot and killed his girlfriend before sunup. Not very romantic. Flowers would have been better.
• The trial began on March 3, 2014 and ended on September 12, 2014 (South African time).
• Pistorius pleaded "not guilty." (See the reenactment in the video at the end of this piece.)

photo credit: lwpkommunikacio via photopin cc
Pistorius and Steenkamp in happier times

• The trial was conducted in South Africa, where the jury system is abolished
• The judge, Thokozile Masipa, "appointed two assessors ... to help her evaluate the case and reach a verdict," according to Wikipedia.

Pritorius has a Wikipedia Page ; Books about him on Amazon 

The Trial has a Wiki Page; Reeva Steenkamp has a Wikipedia Page

Further Reading and Sources: Important Dates in the Life of Oscar Pistorius; Prosecutor says Pistorius lied on stand ; Studying Oscar Pistorius: Does the Blade Runner Have an Advantage; Pistorius Fulfilled Dream by Running Olympics in London; Oscar Pistorius Trial: Verdict Is Out!; Oscar Pistorius Trial: Final Verdict Endangers Judge Masipa?; Oscar Pistorius Can Expect a Cool Reception if He is Able to Return to the Paraolympics