The Blade Runner murder: 'Dateline' explores killing of Reeva Steenkamp by Olympian Oscar Pistorius
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: Oscar Legend Carl Pistorius is a former South African professional sprinter and convicted murderer. He faced a significant physical challenge from an early age, as both of his feet were amputated when he was just 11 months old due to a congenital defect.
This condition resulted in him being born without the outside parts of both feet and both fibulae. Despite these obstacles, he competed in both non-disabled sprint events and sprint events specifically designed for below-knee amputees. Pistorius made history as the 10th athlete to participate in the Paralympic and Olympic Games. However, controversy arose when he sought entry into non-disabled international competitions, encountering objections from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Critics argued that his prosthetic limbs gave him an unfair advantage.
Despite these challenges, Pistorius managed to overcome legal obstacles and compete in the 2011 World Championships in Athletics. He made history by becoming the first amputee to claim a non-disabled world track medal.
His participation in the 2012 Summer Olympics marked another significant milestone, as Pistorius became the first double-leg amputee to compete in the Olympic Games. However, his track achievements were ultimately overshadowed by his later conviction for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013.
Who was Reeva Steenkamp?
Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp was a prominent South African model and paralegal celebrated for her contributions to the fashion and entertainment industries. Her work garnered widespread attention, appearing in notable media outlets such as modeling for FHM magazine and serving as the inaugural face of Avon cosmetics in South Africa.
Steenkamp further showcased her versatility by working as a live roaming presenter for FashionTV in South Africa. Additionally, she starred in television advertisements for brands, including Toyota Land Cruiser, Clover Industries, Redds, and Aldor Pin Pop.
In addition to her modeling career, Steenkamp showcased her talents on television, appearing in shows like BBC Lifestyle's "Baking Made Easy" in 2012 and competing in "Tropika Island of Treasure" season 5, which aired on SABC 3 in February 2013. Tragically, Steenkamp's life was cut short on Valentine's Day in 2013 when she was fatally shot by her boyfriend, Oscar Pistorius, at his home in Pretoria. Pistorius claimed that he mistook her for an intruder hiding in the bathroom, leading to a highly publicized legal case and eventual conviction for murder.
What happened between Oscar Pistorius and his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp?
The tragic incident leading to Reeva Steenkamp's death unfolded when she was 29 years old. She was shot by Oscar Pistorius while she was in the bathroom of his residence. Pistorius has consistently maintained that the shooting was a tragic mistake, asserting that he believed there was an intruder in the house and acted out of fear for his safety.
According to Pistorius's testimony, he fired four shots through a locked toilet door, inadvertently striking Steenkamp in the head, hip, and arm. He asserted that he only realized it was Steenkamp behind the door after breaking it down with a cricket bat. During the court proceedings, the prosecution argued that the murder was premeditated, suggesting that Pistorius shot Steenkamp following an argument. They pointed to the fact that Pistorius was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time of the shooting as evidence of premeditation, citing the time it would take him to put them on.
However, Pistorius testified that he was on his stumps during the incident, a claim supported by analysis from a ballistic expert. The case garnered significant media attention and sparked debates about self-defense, premeditated murder, and the use of firearms. Ultimately, Pistorius was convicted of murder and served a prison sentence for his actions.
What happened during the trial of Oscar Pistorius for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp?
Both the prosecution and the defense presented their accounts of the events surrounding the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp by Oscar Pistorius. Detective Hilton Botha testified that Prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued Pistorius donned his prosthetic legs, proceeded from his bedroom to the bathroom, and deliberately shot Steenkamp through the locked toilet door. Nel contended that the duration of these actions suggested premeditation for murder. However, Pistorius maintained that he thought Steenkamp was in bed and mistook the individual in the toilet for an intruder. He asserted that he only donned his prosthetic legs after firing the shots.
Detective Hilton Botha played a significant role in the initial stages of the investigation into the shooting incident involving Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp. However, his credibility came under scrutiny during the hearing when he provided conflicting testimony and acknowledged procedural errors at the crime scene. Adding to the controversy, it surfaced that Botha was facing charges of attempted murder related to a separate incident. This revelation resulted in Botha being replaced by Vineshkumar Moonoo, a highly respected detective within the South African Police Service. The trial officially began on 3 March 2014 in the High Court in Pretoria.
During the trial, Johan Stipp, a neighbor and radiologist, provided testimony regarding the events he witnessed. He recounted discovering Pistorius praying over Steenkamp's body following the sounds of gunshots and screams. Stipp recalled Pistorius admitting, "I shot her. I thought she was a burglar. I shot her." This testimony provided crucial insights into Pistorius' state of mind and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
What charges were pressed against Oscar Pistorius?
At the end of the trial, Oscar Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide in 2014 and was sentenced to five years in prison. However, in 2015, the conviction was overturned by South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal, which instead found him guilty of murder.
Following this ruling, Pistorius was initially sentenced to six years in prison. However, in 2017, the sentence was augmented to 13 years and five months following an appeal that deemed the original sentence "shockingly too lenient." This legal process underscores the complexities and consequences inherent in the case, as well as the judicial system's endeavors to uphold justice.
When was Oscar Pistorius released on parole?
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been granted parole and released from a South African prison, nearly 11 years after he was convicted of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Officials confirmed that Pistorius was "at home" on January 5th, having served half of his more than 13-year sentence. While Ms Steenkamp's mother expressed acceptance of the decision to release the former athlete, she also emphasized that her family feels they are the ones "serving a life sentence.
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