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obamanut2012

(29,415 posts) Tue Feb 19, 2013, 01:53 PM Feb 2013

Reeva Steenkamp's killer will have a bench trial [View all]

South Africa doesn't have trial by jury. I think, in this case, it may help keep the "cult of personality" from coloring the verdict ala Robert Blake.

Reeva Steenkamp was her name.

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Reeva Steenkamp's killer will have a bench trial [View all] obamanut2012 Feb 2013 OP

I continue to be shocked by this BainsBane Feb 2013 #1

He was also apparently very paranoid..he slept with a gun under joeybee12 Feb 2013 #2

Apparently steroids were found in the house KamaAina Feb 2013 #6

This story gets weirder and weirder... joeybee12 Feb 2013 #12

Ding ding we have a winner malaise Feb 2013 #29

In South Africa, windows are barred. aquart Feb 2013 #51

Ithink it is national, from what others have posted...nt joeybee12 Feb 2013 #55

And a history of domestic calls obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #3

actually I heard that wasn't the case BainsBane Feb 2013 #5

Yes, it was obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #18

I found an incident of him being arrested for assaulting a woman in 2009 REP Feb 2013 #48

A lot of abusers manage to seem like great people to the public. redqueen Feb 2013 #8

true BainsBane Feb 2013 #13

Very true. redqueen Feb 2013 #23

OJ was really beloved before he was revealed to be a serial domestic abuser geek tragedy Feb 2013 #10

not the same BainsBane Feb 2013 #14

Give this case a few days or weeks. geek tragedy Feb 2013 #16

good points BainsBane Feb 2013 #17

No incident of domestic violence surprises me. geek tragedy Feb 2013 #20

One report on the news this morning was of the comments made by the mother of one of his exes. redqueen Feb 2013 #21

I didn't see that BainsBane Feb 2013 #24

I'll stick with trial by jury, thank you. Bake Feb 2013 #4

He admits to killing her BainsBane Feb 2013 #7

And again, I'll stick with a jury. Bake Feb 2013 #11

I hear you. BainsBane Feb 2013 #15

We often have a choice to have a bench trial obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #19

If I'm a defendant in a criminal matter, I'll take a jury ANY DAY. Bake Feb 2013 #27

Depends. Jury trials in the deep south during the civil rights era geek tragedy Feb 2013 #22

An excellent point that many might not consider. redqueen Feb 2013 #25

This was the same case in SA. HappyMe Feb 2013 #26

That's what I read obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #43

Depends on your point of view, and this isn't the 1960s. Bake Feb 2013 #28

Of course defendant will take a jury trial if he's rich and a celebrity. geek tragedy Feb 2013 #31

Again, this isn't the 1960s anymore. Bake Feb 2013 #32

Sure, and if you're a celebrity who has limitless resources and has an adoring geek tragedy Feb 2013 #33

You've already decided he's guilty as hell, just like Robert Blake. Bake Feb 2013 #34

I'm not likely to sit on a South African jury, or one in Mississippi, so geek tragedy Feb 2013 #37

I don't know dsc Feb 2013 #52

You go to Jefferson County, Mississippi and tell me who's serving on juries. Bake Feb 2013 #35

This guy ain't standing trial in Jefferson, MS. geek tragedy Feb 2013 #38

Exactly, which is why I think this will be a more legit trial obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #44

South Africa is far worse HappyMe Feb 2013 #40

I can't speak to S. Africa. I just resent the bias against all jury trials. Bake Feb 2013 #41

Jury trials can be more fair, they can be less fair. geek tragedy Feb 2013 #45

My OP is about a South African case obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #46

Very, very rarely would a criminal defendant in the US want a bench trial. Bake Feb 2013 #49

This message was self-deleted by its author DevonRex Feb 2013 #56

Right, or where the jury may be biased because of media, etc. obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #42

K&R Starry Messenger Feb 2013 #9

She had such a great future ahead of her. I hope her family gets justice, whatever that may be. polly7 Feb 2013 #30

Jury or Bench, the sad thing is most in america do not get EITHER any more CBGLuthier Feb 2013 #36

the problem with his story riverwalker Feb 2013 #39

Unless she went in there and locked the door to get away from him. Avalux Feb 2013 #47

she fled to the bathroom to get away from him TorchTheWitch Feb 2013 #50

where did you read about the autopsy? BainsBane Feb 2013 #54

one of the articles I read or several of them TorchTheWitch Feb 2013 #61

the autopsy hasn't been released BainsBane Feb 2013 #63

and people also leak info to the press on "big" crimes TorchTheWitch Feb 2013 #65

i haven't read the details but if what you say is true that seems the most likely Case JI7 Feb 2013 #57

CCTV shows her being there from late afternoon on obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #58

one of the many articles TorchTheWitch Feb 2013 #60

good point BainsBane Feb 2013 #53

This is the story he told in court today obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #59

Even if his story were true BainsBane Feb 2013 #64

I'm not buying his story either. I hope justice is served. smirkymonkey Feb 2013 #62