Soldato
Heat of the moment senseless killing which he now regrets on all levels.
It's just said on the radio that they were arguing and shouting loudly before the gunshots. I really don't see how there is any doubt as to what happened if that is the case.
Also the witness was apparently 300m away and not 600m.
I don't know him and wasn't there but I feel I absolutely know how this unfolded.
Just putting what out there, in his version of events, he gets woken up, hears something, thinks there is an intruder, being South Africa, policy is shoot first, ask questions later.
Putting aside his story and the prosecution for a moment, given that he has admitted killing her, what is the minimum sentence he can expect? anyone know SA law?
UK law you would be doing time, and the case would just be deciding how much, is SA law much different? is there a chance he could walk free?
Putting aside his story and the prosecution for a moment, given that he has admitted killing her, what is the minimum sentence he can expect? anyone know SA law?
UK law you would be doing time, and the case would just be deciding how much, is SA law much different? is there a chance he could walk free?
— Accidental shootings: In 2004, former Springbok rugby player Rudi Visagie awoke to the sound of his car driving away in the predawn hours. He opened fire with a handgun at the car, fatally wounding the driver — who turned out to be his 19-year-old daughter, Maryle.
After an investigation, however, prosecutors declined to press charges on what they described as “humanitarian grounds.”
Would be the best conparison.
Happened in Pretoria as well. Probably the best comparison. Admittedly it seems quite a bit easier to understand how he thought that was a burglar. Although I wonder if those who doubt you'd check, would say he should have checked the his daughter was in the house first, especially considering it was her car...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/may/25/southafrica.rugbyunion
kd
Just heard on the radio that the police are now saying they found testosterone injections in his bedroom.
Absolutely, that is a version of events and we could come up with a thousand more.
But I think I will apply occam's razor to this situation for my opinion and we will wait and see what other information comes out
The reports of arguing and previous domestic disturbances all point to the simpler answer so far.
Would be the best conparison.
Happened in Pretoria as well. Probably the best comparison. Admittedly it seems quite a bit easier to understand how he thought that was a burglar. Although I wonder if those who doubt you'd check, would say he should have checked the his daughter was in the house first, especially considering it was her car...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/may/25/southafrica.rugbyunion
kd
Ahh yes, I remember that happening whilst I was living there. Very tragic, especially considering it didn't warrant use of lethal force in the first place anyway.
The IO initially said it was 600m, and then changed it to 300m when being questioned by the prosecution. He also confirmed that the witness said they couldn't identify if any of the voices were his or hers and couldn't make out what was said either.
Applying occams razor has no bearing here as killing her on purpose and killing her accidentally are both very simple explanations, neither is simpler.
many people have been murdered, most of them have argued with multiple people, arguing is something the vast majority of couples do, many very frequently and very few resulting in murder. Domestic disturbances don't point to anything simple at all. The point was, if you suspect someone on the other side of the door could easily be armed and may intend to kill you, you don't go up to the door, you don't want to open the door at all, so why would he know it was locked, or assume an intruder had locked himself in, that is no where near the simplist explanation.
well he's said he didnt have his prosthetics on when he shot through the door, the prosecution are saying he did - surely forensics are going to put a big dent in one or the others case.
SA and UK laws are very, very different.
If the legs don't fit you must acquit!