George Zimmermann got off. Some parallels. Gun nut who felt threatened.

Fella. I'm purely looking at the evidence, and coming up with an objective view as to whether the judge has enough evidence or not to convict him of murder. I have no opinion whether he is guilty of murder or not. I don't care. What I find fascinating about the case is the complexity. If you are going to throw your expertise about "south African law" kindly back it up with some facts cause right now your word against nothing is useless.

A slight difference, he got jumped by the guy. Reeva was locked behind a door - screaming!

Yup, he murdered her alright. Just have to work on premeditated or poor impulse control. Folk did hear screaming but I assume Oscar must be deaf because he could not or chose not to hear it. Any which way you look at it, he shot at her FOUR times. He certainly intended to make sure the person behind that door was toast and he did a good job of it.

They appear to have both been men with a heightened fear of crime. That seemed to work as a defence for Zimmermann.

I have not followed the Pistorius case closely. It seems weak, but strange things happen in court.

In regard to your last sentence. Yes indeed.

It suggests here that he's an accomplished liar who's managed to wriggle off the hook before.

http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/artic.../#.U1kv6PmSySo

And these interviews suggest that he's received coaching for over a year now - no doubt the best that money can buy. A few really telling remarks too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9L3f0TtMqQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut6-X8X7lEA

That article in the Daily Maverick gives me a headache.

I think I'd far rather read some South African legal journals. You've got plenty of those handy right?

If you think it'll help you get rid of that bee that's buzzing around in your bonnet then yes, go ahead.

Ah ha ....... Ding ding.

So what do you think the judge will rule when she gives her verdict?

Thread title - Pistorius Guilty or not?

Doesn't matter what we think, or what we know, or what we think we know, the judge will decide. Anything else is just noise

Depends if she believes him or not. What's your opinion?

Well, you didn't give any credence to my opinion, despite the very same thing happening to me less than 3 months ago, so not sure that will help you with your apparent independent deliberations either. (I say the same thing - different outcome. There actually was someone in my house, I checked where my wife & kids were, called security, who turned up after they'd gone with my laptop and wallet. No-one died, because I'm not a trigger-happy psychopath).

FWIW, I think he'll get the equivalent of manslaughter and 7 years.

The manslaughter and 7 years would be if she believes his story, right? And if she doesn't believe his story it could be about double that. Both of the above would be relatively modest because I'm assuming the judge accepts that he's been dealt a tough hand in life (born with a disability, lost his mum at a young age, etc). But even that can't be taken for granted because relative to the wider SA'n population he's had a life of privilege, good fortune and Oom Arnie.

But it's in Africa ...anything is possible there

Exactly. On all counts. I am convinced he did it deliberately - but I am not convinced it has been proven beyond reasonable doubt. But - letting guns off in a café and in a car, plus shooting through a door when not under a direct threat (even if you know a machine-gun wielding murderer is waiting there) are all illegal here, and they have been pretty well proven. So 7 years should be the minimum he is facing.