1 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: Welcome back to playing Dirty Sports Scandals. I'm Jay Harris, 2 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: your host. You're brave Barista and the bearer of this 3 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: heartbreaking Valentine's Day saga. Together we'll dig deeper into how 4 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: the beautiful, brilliant Reva Steinkamp died on February fourteenth, twenty thirteen. 5 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: Was her killing a terrible, unwitting accident motivated by Oscar Pistorius' 6 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: sheer paranoia over a home intruder. Or was Reva murdered 7 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: in cold blood by her famous blade runner boyfriend who 8 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: had an awful temper mixed with a passion for firearms. Certainly, 9 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: investigators and prosecutors didn't buy Oscar's claims of an intruder 10 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: in his mansion on the silver Woods Estate in Pretoria, 11 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: even though first responders did paint a picture of him 12 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: as a deeply distraught lover. The manager of silver Woods 13 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: Estate and his daughter were the first two people on 14 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: the scene after the shooting. The manager testified that Oscar 15 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: had been crying, screaming, and praying while carrying Reva's bloodied 16 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 1: body down the stairs when they arrived, and doctor Johann Stipp, 17 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 1: a neighbor who rushed over to help when he heard 18 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: the commotion. Also described the scene as chaotic and devastating, 19 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: with Oscar pleading for Reva to stay alive. Doctor Stipp 20 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: would later testify that Oscar looked sincere to me. He 21 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: was crying, there were tears on his face. He was saying, 22 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 1: please let her live. He was saying he would dedicate 23 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: his life to God if she will only live. But 24 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: while the estate manager and doctor Johann Stipp seemed to 25 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: buy Oscar's version of events, Detective Hilton Botha, a twenty 26 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: four year veteran of the South African Police Service, shared 27 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: with Vanity Air that he never doubted revastein Camp's death 28 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: was a calculated murder. There's no way anything else could 29 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: have happened. Detected both And said, it was just Oscar 30 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: and Riva in the house, and according to the security registers, 31 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: she had been staying there for two to three days, 32 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: so he had to be used to her by that time. 33 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: There was no forced entry. The only place there could 34 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: have been entrants was the open bathroom window, and we 35 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: did everything we could to see if anyone went through it, 36 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: and it was impossible, so I thought it was an 37 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: open and closed case. Oscar Pistoria shot revasteain Camp. That's it. 38 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: I was convinced that it was murder, and I told 39 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: my colonel, you already read him his rights, so you 40 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: have to arrest him. And that's what went down. Oscar 41 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: Pistorius was taken into custody and charged with murder within 42 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 1: hours of Riva's death. As police and prosecutors got to work, 43 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:06,359 Speaker 1: investigators and attorneys were scrambling on the heels of Oscar's arrest, 44 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 1: and they weren't the only ones. The following days devolved 45 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: into a media frenzy, with the world watching as details 46 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: of the case unfolded. The once celebrated athlete now found 47 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: himself with a problem he couldn't outrun. Oscar Pistorius was 48 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: a spectator, seeing his life unravel in the public eye 49 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: as he faced the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence. Meanwhile, 50 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:35,839 Speaker 1: Revasteencamp's devastated parents, June and Barry, had to navigate their 51 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 1: personal tragedy in the public eye as well. Sky News 52 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: reported that June and Barry Steamcamp faced the gathering of 53 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: camera crews who filmed their every movement with stoicism and fortitude, 54 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: but no one was left in any doubt that they 55 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: hated every minute of being in the spotlight. June herself 56 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: admitted as much, saying the media interest meant the loss 57 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: of our privacy and made it difficult to mourn our 58 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: daughter Riva in peace. We who remain behind are the 59 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: ones serving a life sentence. On February nineteenth, twenty thirteen, 60 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: the stunned, heartbroken Steamcamp family watched, alongside millions of others, 61 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: as Oscar's four day bail hearing began. It is extremely 62 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: unusual for bail hearing to last more than a day, 63 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: but Oscar was a public figure and both sides had 64 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 1: come prepared to duke it out. Each blow packed a 65 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 1: punch and took time to deliver. Prosecutor Harry Nell argued 66 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: vehemently against allowing any bail for Oscar Pistorius, insisting that 67 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: Oscar posed a flight risk and emphasizing that he should 68 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: be charged and held without bail for premeditated murder. But 69 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 1: Oscar's lawyer, defense attorney Barry Rue, countered powerfully. He emphasized 70 00:04:55,320 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: his client's disability, the logistical difficulties Oscar would face if incarcerated, 71 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: his status as a national hero, and insisted that Revastinekamp's 72 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: tragic death was a terrible accident, not premeditated murder. Attorney 73 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: Rue further argued that Oscar deserved to be released on 74 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: bail while awaiting trial because the investigation into Reva's death 75 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: had been mishandled by the prosecution. In a shocking turn 76 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: of events, the defense declared that lead detective Hilton Botha's 77 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 1: credibility was nil since he himself was facing seven charges 78 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: of attempted murder what allegedly in October twenty eleven, detected 79 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: both the and two other officers opened fire on seven 80 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:45,119 Speaker 1: passengers in a taxi minibus to stop the vehicle. Sky 81 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 1: News reported that it was claimed the officers who were 82 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:53,239 Speaker 1: on duty at the time were drunk. Wow, it certainly 83 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: didn't help matters that detected. Both A further admitted under 84 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: defense questioning that the police quote had lost track of 85 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: ammunition found inside Oscar Pistorius's house and it failed to 86 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 1: wear protective clothing at the crime scene. With the shockers 87 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: disclosed by and about lead investigator detected both the under 88 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: defense attorney Barry Rous, questioning the prosecution, led by Harry Nell, 89 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: had little chance of successfully winning its no bail bid 90 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: for Oscar Pistorius. Chief Magistrate Desmond Nail, who would notably 91 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: be suspended and facing corruption charges himself just three and 92 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: a half years later for allegedly receiving kickbacks, ruled in 93 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 1: favor of the defense and set the bail amount at 94 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 1: one million Rand, which was equivalent to approximately one hundred 95 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: thirteen thousand dollars. For an athlete of Oscar's stature, this 96 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: amount was a drop in the bucket. Additional conditions of 97 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 1: Oscar's bail included surrendering his passports, refraining from alcohol consumption, 98 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 1: and reporting to a police station twice a week. Oscar 99 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: Pistorius was released from police custody on February twenty second, 100 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: twenty thirteen, just nine days after Reva Steinekamp's death, to 101 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: await his trial as a freeman. Now, while Oscar's relationship 102 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: with his father had been strained ever since Hank Pastorius 103 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: walked out on the family, Oscar did have the benefit 104 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: of an enduring close relationship with his paternal uncle, Arnold Pistorius, 105 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 1: and Arnold's wife, Lois Pastorius. Arnold and Lois had taken 106 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: Oscar and his siblings in after their biological mother, Sheila's 107 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: death and raised him from age fifteen onwards. Uncle Arnold 108 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: and Aunt Lois were Oscar's rocks, and he needed them 109 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: now more than ever. As soon as he was released 110 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: on bail, Oscar went to live with them in their 111 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: magnificent home in the upscale suburb of Watercloof in Pretoria. 112 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: Their estate was the perfect place to hunker down and 113 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: prepare for trial. The three story mansion provided relative privacy 114 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: from the relentless press frenzy. While media outlets from around 115 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: the world camped outside of Arnold and Lois Pastorius' home, 116 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: the most they could hope for was a glimpse of 117 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: the blade runner behind a massive gate in leafy trees. 118 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 1: Oscar Pistorius' family and legal team focused on preparing for 119 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: the upcoming trial. His defense attorneys, Barry Rue and Kenny 120 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 1: old Wage were notoriously dogged, with a history of taking 121 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 1: on and winning high profile cases. Notably, attorney old Wage 122 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: had successfully defended Oscar Pistorius's brother Karl against the culpable 123 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: homicide charge related to the death of a woman motorcyclist 124 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: named Mariiki Barnard in a traffic accident in two thousand 125 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: and eight. The combination of attorneys rue and old wage 126 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: was formidable, and the Pistorius family didn't stop there. Scientists 127 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: such as top forensic pathologists Reggi Peramol and private investigators 128 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: were also highed to develop the strongest possible legal defense 129 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: for Oscar. Even the court of public opinion was catered 130 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: to by Oscar Pistorius's family with the hiring of Stuart Higgins, 131 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 1: former editor of The Sun newspaper, assigned to pr The 132 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: strategy of Oscar's supercharged team was singular and clear, to 133 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: prove the shooting of Rivastinekamp was a tragic accident and 134 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: not a premeditated murder? Could they do it? Everyone following 135 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: the case was on the edge of their seat waiting 136 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: to find out. So intensely was Oscar's trial anticipated that 137 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: there were echoes of the oj Simpson cases mania Every development, 138 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: every visit to the courthouse, and every statement from the 139 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:50,839 Speaker 1: legal teams was destined to be dissected and analyzed by 140 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: pundits and experts from around the globe. The stage was set, 141 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: and on March third, twenty fourteen, it was curtains up 142 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: as the blade Runner entered the High Court of South 143 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 1: Africa in Pretoria on the first day of his trial. 144 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: It's important to note that he was not facing a 145 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: jury of his peers. This is because in South Africa 146 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 1: the judicial system doesn't use jury trials. Instead, a judge, 147 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: sometimes assisted by assessors, decides the outcome of a case. 148 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: For Oscar Pistorius, his fate lay in the hands of 149 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 1: Judge Docozile Massipa, known by her friends as Tilly. Sixty 150 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 1: six year old Judge Messipa had grown up under the 151 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 1: hardships of apartheid and risen to become the country's second 152 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: black female judge. According to The Financial Times, Judge Massipa 153 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: had also earned a reputation for defending women's rights, and 154 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 1: the year before Oscar's trial, she had notably sentenced to 155 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: Siria rapist to two hundred and fifty years in prison. 156 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: If the prosecution's case stuck. It seemed unlikely that Judge 157 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,959 Speaker 1: Messipa would serve up a lenience sentence for Oscar Pistorius, 158 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: and the prosecution's case was daunting. Oscar faced multiple serious charges, 159 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: including illegal possession of ammunition, culpable homicide which we call 160 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:17,079 Speaker 1: manslaughter in the US, and premeditated murder. Premeditated murder was 161 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: by far the most serious charge, and if Oscar was 162 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: found guilty on this charge, it came with a mandatory 163 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 1: life sentence with a minimum of twenty five years served 164 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:35,199 Speaker 1: before parole eligibility. Prosecutor Harry Nell, known as the pit 165 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 1: Bull in South African legal circles for his fierce courtroom 166 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: demeanor and meticulous attention to detail, hammered home the premeditated 167 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 1: murder charge. Prosecutor Nell argued that Oscar Pistorius had not 168 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: acted out of fear of an intruder, but out of 169 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: rage following a heated argument with Revstine Camp. As reported 170 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: by The New York Times, Harry Nell said it defied 171 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: comprehension that Revastein Camp had not screamed, as Oscar asserted 172 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: when he shot her in the head. Prosecutor Nell also 173 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: said that if Oscar Pasorius had truly feared an intruder, 174 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: then it was inconceivable that he would not have checked 175 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: that Riva was safe before drawing his gun. The forensic 176 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: evidence presented by the prosecution was crucial to supporting Harry 177 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 1: Nell's argument. Bullet trajectories and the grouping of shots all 178 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 1: suggested a deliberate and calculated act. Results of A partial 179 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 1: autopsy revealed that Riva had been struck by three of 180 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,080 Speaker 1: the four bullets that had been fired through the bathroom door, 181 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: sustaining wounds to her head, hip and arm. Captain Christian Mangana, 182 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,079 Speaker 1: a ballistic expert, told the court that after being hit 183 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 1: in the right hip, revastein Camp fell backwards and three 184 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 1: more bullets were fired. He believed the fatal shot went 185 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: through her left hand into her skull as she crossed 186 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: her arms over her head to protect herself. Forensic investigator 187 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: Colonel Johannes Vermullin then demonstrated that Oscar Pistorius had not 188 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: been wearing his prosthetics at the time he forced the 189 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,959 Speaker 1: door open with a cricket bat after the shooting. As 190 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 1: the defense claimed, Colonel Vermullin reenacted wielding a cricket bat 191 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 1: at a door in court before declaring that everyone could 192 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: see the marks on the door are actually consistent with 193 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: Oscar not having his legs on. But even more damning 194 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: than the forensic evidence and Prosecutor Harry Nell's tenacious arguments 195 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:39,440 Speaker 1: were Reva's own words. Her mobile phone was recovered from 196 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 1: the bathroom where she died, and her text messages to 197 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: Oscar were revealing I was not flirting with anyone today. 198 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 1: I feel sick that you suggested that Reva texted Oscar 199 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 1: in one instance, providing a glimpse into his jealous and 200 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: controlling nature. You have picked on me excessively, Reva wrote, 201 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 1: I do everything to make you happy and to not 202 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 1: say anything to rock the boat with you. Reva's words 203 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: painted a picture of a relationship fraud, with tension and insecurity, 204 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:16,079 Speaker 1: undermining the Defensi's portrayal of a loving couple an Oscar's 205 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: portrayal of himself as grief stricken and innocent. Prosecutor Harry 206 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: Nell unsurprisingly used Reva's messages to argue that Oscar Pistorius 207 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 1: had a documented history of emotional instability and controlling behavior, 208 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: which culminated in the tragic event of February fourteenth, twenty thirteen. 209 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 1: She was standing there talking to you when you shot 210 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: her in the head, Prosecutor Nell said to Oscar and 211 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: cross examination, Reva was not scared of an intruder. She 212 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: was scared of you. You shot at her, knowing she 213 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: was behind that door. You shot and killed her. Won't 214 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: you take responsibility for that? But even as Riva's parents, 215 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: June and Barry choked back tears in the courtroom. Oscar 216 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: did not admit responsibility. Rather, his defense team attempted to 217 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 1: contextualize the text messages, with Attorney Berri Roux arguing that 218 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: all couples have disagreements. Out of that more than seventeen 219 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: hundred text messages, you found four relevant to an argument. 220 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: Attorney Rue pointedly asked data analysts Captain Francois Moler. Captain 221 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: Mohler said yes, before Attorney Rue steam rolled ahead to 222 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: share some of the loving texts between his client and 223 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 1: the deceased. These included a text in which Oscar told 224 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: Riva that he was the luckiest guy ever, and in 225 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: another exchange that she looked amaze balls. The defense was 226 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: hopeful that by sharing some of these lighter exchanges, they'd 227 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,239 Speaker 1: managed to portray a more balanced view of the relationship 228 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: between Riva and Oscar, but they weren't counting on Judge 229 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 1: Massipa being won over by this counter argument. Oscar Pistorius's 230 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: top notch defense team knew that they had to convince 231 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 1: the judge that their client's actions had been genuinely driven 232 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: by fear rather than malice. To avoid the premeditated murder charge. 233 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: They needed her to you Oscar as a man deeply 234 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 1: traumatized by crime, living in constant fear due to the 235 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: high crime rates in South Africa, his disability, defense attorney 236 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 1: Barry Rue argued, would naturally have made Oscar feel even 237 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 1: more vulnerable at the prospect of an intruder, particularly as 238 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: he would have been physically smaller without his legs on 239 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: than any trespasser. Further, attorney rupressed, it was evident that 240 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: Oscar Pistorius's emotional state was that of a devastated man. 241 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: While one of Oscar's neighbors, Michelle Berger, told the court 242 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: how she'd been woken up by a woman's blood curdling screams, 243 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 1: Barry Rue insisted that she could not prove the screams 244 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: came from Reva rather than a distraught Oscar Pistorius. After all, 245 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: the defense reminded the judge Oscar's other neighbor, doctor Johann Stipp, 246 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 1: had believed Oscar's genuine heartbreak after the shooting. Whoa. Yvette 247 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: von Skulkwik, the social worker and probation officer assigned to 248 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 1: Oscar after the shooting, also testified that, in her professional opinion, 249 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:28,640 Speaker 1: he was heartbroken, genuinely sorry for Reva's parents, suffering emotionally 250 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: and deeply missing Riva. Yvette's perspective as a social worker 251 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: was shared by clinical psychologist Jonathan Schultz, who assessed Oscar 252 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 1: and provided a report read by defense attorney Barry Rue 253 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:46,200 Speaker 1: in court. This report stated that mister Oscar Pastorius has 254 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: been severely traumatized by the events that took place on 255 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 1: fourteen February twenty thirteen. He currently suffers from post traumatic 256 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: stress disorder and major depressive disorder. The degree of anxiety 257 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: andres es that is present is significant. He is also 258 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:07,640 Speaker 1: mourning the loss of Miss Reevastemcamp. Mister Pistorius is being 259 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: treated and should continue to receive clinical care by a 260 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist for his current condition. Should 261 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:19,440 Speaker 1: he not receive proper clinical care, his condition is likely 262 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:24,879 Speaker 1: to worsen and increase the risk for suicide. Judge Tilli 263 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: Masipa was in a challenging position. Both the defense and 264 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: prosecution in Oscar Pistorius's trial were at the top of 265 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 1: their legal games, and the most compelling words were, of course, 266 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: yet to be uttered. In her courtroom. On April seventh, 267 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen, Oscar himself took the stand with the whole 268 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: world watching. I would like to take this opportunity to 269 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: apologize to missus and mister Steencamp, to Reva's family, to 270 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,120 Speaker 1: those of you who knew her who are here today. 271 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: There hasn't been a moment since this tragedy happened that 272 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: I haven't thought about your family, Oscar began. I wake 273 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 1: up every morning, and you're the first people I think of, 274 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:09,919 Speaker 1: the first people I pray for. I can't imagine the 275 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 1: pain and the sorrow and the emptiness that I've caused 276 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: you and your family. I was simply trying to protect Riva. 277 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: I can promise that when she went to bed that night, 278 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: she felt loved. According to the BBC, Reva Steinkamp's mother, June, 279 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: watched stony face as Oscar spoke. Oscar captivated viewers with 280 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: his dramatic courtroom behavior in the coming weeks, which ranged 281 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: from vomiting when pictures of Riva's wounds were displayed to 282 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 1: multiple tearful breakdowns. His emotional testimony was, of course, a 283 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: key element of his defense team's strategy aimed at humanizing 284 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 1: him and eliciting empathy from Judge Messipa. It proved to 285 00:19:56,119 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 1: be a highly effective strategy. Judge Messipa respond compassionately to 286 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 1: Oscar Pistorius' emotional upheaval, adjourning the trial several times so 287 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 1: that he could compose himself in the court of public opinion. 288 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:14,200 Speaker 1: These adjournments helped paint a picture of a man deeply 289 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:18,440 Speaker 1: affected by the loss of his girlfriend, reinforcing the defense's 290 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: narrative of Revasteinekamp's killing as a genuine, tragic mistake. The 291 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,879 Speaker 1: breaks for Oscar during the trial also supported attorney ruse 292 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 1: argument that his client's emotional instability was consistent with someone 293 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: who would act it out of fear and panic. The 294 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 1: morning of February fourteenth, twenty thirteen, rather than premeditation, forty 295 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: one days after Oscar Pistorius's trial had begun, it was done. 296 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:53,440 Speaker 1: Prosecutor Harry Nell's closing arguments reiterated the key points of 297 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:58,640 Speaker 1: their case, the forensic evidence of premeditation, the volatile nature 298 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 1: of Oscar and Revas's RS relationship, and Oscar's reckless history 299 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:08,159 Speaker 1: with firearms. Defense attorney Barry Roue's closing arguments reiterated the 300 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 1: key points of their case that investigators had mishandled the 301 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 1: crime scene, that the prosecution's case was not airtight beyond 302 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:21,119 Speaker 1: a reasonable doubt, and that Oscar was clearly emotionally impacted 303 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: by what had transpired, a man devastated by his own 304 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 1: terrible mistake. No one was arguing that Reva's life had 305 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:33,959 Speaker 1: been lost. Attorney Roue emphasized the defense did believe, however, 306 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:37,479 Speaker 1: that since there was no intention on Oscar's part to 307 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 1: kill Reva, that the shooting should have only led to 308 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:46,399 Speaker 1: a charge of culpable homicide rather than premeditated murder. With 309 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 1: the closing arguments complete, it was time for Judge Tillie 310 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 1: Masipa to deliberate. She told both sides to return to 311 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,880 Speaker 1: the High Court in Pretoria on September eleventh, twenty fourteen, 312 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: to hear her ruling. As everyone waited with anticipation to 313 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:07,360 Speaker 1: learn Oscar's fate, many legal experts weighed in with their predictions. 314 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: Criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor Marius de Troy, for one, 315 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: told The New York Times that I would think that 316 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 1: the ruling would be between culpable homicide and premeditated murder. 317 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:22,159 Speaker 1: I don't know if the state has done enough for 318 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: murder to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, and I 319 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 1: think Oscar Pistorius may have done too much for culpable homicide. 320 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 1: Would Toy's prediction prove accurate? On September eleventh, twenty fourteen, 321 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 1: all parties reconvened in court to hear Judge Tilly Masipa's verdict. Now, 322 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: it can take hours or even days for a verdict 323 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 1: to be delivered, and so it wasn't until the next day, 324 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 1: September twelfth, twenty fourteen, that Oscar Pistorius learned his fate. 325 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 1: The BBC reported that Judge massip but didn't mince her 326 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: words when she said the athlete Oscar Pistorius, who has 327 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:08,920 Speaker 1: a good knowledge of guns, acted negligently by firing four 328 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:13,360 Speaker 1: shots into a confined space. She questioned why he did 329 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: not phone for help or run to the balcony instead 330 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: of confronting the apparent danger, questions that have plagued many 331 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: But then, having admonished Oscar with these words, and despite 332 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:31,160 Speaker 1: clear outrage from Prosecutor Harry Nell, Judge Messipa announced that 333 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 1: Oscar Pistorius was not guilty of murder. She only found 334 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 1: Oscar guilty of culpable homicide. I am of the view 335 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 1: that the accused acted too hastily and used excessive force. 336 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 1: In the circumstances, it is clear that his conduct was negligent. 337 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:53,920 Speaker 1: Judge Massipa declared. Oscar was given a five year jail 338 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 1: sentence and sent to Pretoria's hosimm Peru prison, which houses 339 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: approximately seven thousand inmates. His defense team told reporters that 340 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 1: they expected Oscar to serve about ten months in the 341 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 1: prison's hospital wing before being transferred to house arrest for 342 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:16,399 Speaker 1: the duration of his sentence. The public's reaction to Oscar 343 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 1: Pistorius's sentence was swift and mostly negative. In the Twitter verse, 344 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: many expressed outrage at such a short sentence. The hashtag 345 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:31,400 Speaker 1: things longer than Oscar's sentence trended closer to home. South 346 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:35,680 Speaker 1: Africans were also conflicted, with many feeling that justice had 347 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:39,480 Speaker 1: not been served. The Women's League of the ruling African 348 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: National Congress party said that it was dissatisfied with the 349 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 1: culpable homicide conviction and that Oscar Pistorius should have been 350 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 1: found guilty of murder. It urged prosecutors to appeal in 351 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:54,719 Speaker 1: a statement which read, we hold that regardless of who 352 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: missed Pistorius believed to be behind the bathroom door that 353 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 1: fateful night, he shot to kill Ill, and therefore a 354 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 1: murder did occur. Remarkably, Reva Steenkamp's mother, June, was among 355 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 1: the minority who expressed initial support for Judge Messipa's lenient ruling. 356 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:15,239 Speaker 1: I didn't want Oscar to be thrown in jail and 357 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: be suffering because I don't wish suffering on anyone, and 358 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:22,920 Speaker 1: his incarceration isn't going to bring Reva back, June said 359 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 1: in a speech at Reva's former school in Port Elizabeth. 360 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: June also told BBC three that there's never going to 361 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:35,440 Speaker 1: be closure. How can there be closure. Reva's not coming back. 362 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 1: We just have to try and move on with our life. 363 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:41,800 Speaker 1: You know. I'm going to build shelters for abused women, 364 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 1: raise money for that. Reva's father, Barry, also expressed in 365 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: the same BBC three interview that he too was pleased 366 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: that the whole thing is over, but he seemed less 367 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: inclined to move on than his wife. Before I forgive, forgive, 368 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:01,479 Speaker 1: like any forgiveness, I want to talk to Oscar first, 369 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:04,879 Speaker 1: Barry said, through tears. It won't be anything nice or 370 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,679 Speaker 1: anything like that. But I'd like to sit down and 371 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:12,159 Speaker 1: talk to him. Barry and Junesteen Camp would visit Oscar 372 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 1: in prison nine years later, on June twenty second, twenty 373 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 1: twenty two, but the conversation wouldn't unfold the way they imagined, 374 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 1: and the road to that discussion would be fraught with complication. 375 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 1: Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on October nineteenth, twenty fifteen, 376 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:36,320 Speaker 1: to continue his sentence under house arrest, as his defense 377 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 1: team had predicted. The only thing his all star defense 378 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:43,719 Speaker 1: team hadn't foreseen was a successful appeal by the prosecution. 379 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 1: Harry Nell had filed the appeal believing strongly that Judge 380 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:51,639 Speaker 1: Massipa's culpable homicide ruling had been a miscarriage of justice. 381 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:56,919 Speaker 1: According to his appeal application, as reported by Independent Online, 382 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 1: there were three aggravating major factors that Judge Messipa should 383 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: have taken into account in her sentencing. The number of 384 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 1: shots fired, that Oscar had already formed the intention to 385 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: shoot in his bedroom before he had even approached the bathroom, 386 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: and lastly, the Supreme Court of Appeals rejection of Oscar 387 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 1: Pistorius's claims of self defense with the Appellate Court's support 388 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: of the prosecution, Oscar's conviction was upgraded to murder and 389 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 1: his case was sent back to the lower court and 390 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 1: Judge Messipa for re sentencing. When the case returned to 391 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: court on July sixth, twenty sixteen, Judge Mesceepa sentenced Oscar 392 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 1: Pistorius to six years in prison for murder, rather than 393 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 1: the five years she'd handed down previously for culpable homicide. 394 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: Those who had been upset by Oscar's initial lenient sentence 395 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: felt that Judge Messeepa had missed a second opportunity to 396 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 1: realize justice for Refestine Camp, as reported by The New 397 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 1: York Times. Gareth Knewhim, a criminal justice researcher at the 398 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 1: Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, said that it was 399 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 1: not unusual for a judge to consider mitigating factors in 400 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 1: deviating from sentencing guidelines, but the six year sentence from 401 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:15,199 Speaker 1: Judge Massipa for murder, he said, would most likely anger 402 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 1: a public that has come to regard mister Pistorius much 403 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:23,160 Speaker 1: less sympathetically. Reeva's parents had also been living with their 404 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 1: terrible loss for over three years. By Oscar's second sentencing, 405 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 1: and having discovered that time was not dissipating their pain. 406 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:35,919 Speaker 1: Their initial acceptance of Judge Messipa's leniency had soured. The 407 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 1: New York Times reported that Barry Steenkamp gave tearful testimony 408 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 1: at Oscar's second sentencing and that mister Pistoria's had to 409 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 1: pay for his crime. Mister Steenkamp said his daughter's killing 410 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 1: had contributed to his having a stroke. Mister Steenkamp, a diabetic, 411 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 1: said that his grief has been so severe that he 412 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 1: would take his insolence syringe and quote shove it into 413 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 1: my stomach and my own arms to see if I 414 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 1: could feel the same type of pain but no. Prosecutors 415 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 1: were also gobsmacked by Judge Mascipa's six year sentence for 416 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:14,880 Speaker 1: murder and the Pitbull. Harry Nell promptly appealed again, arguing 417 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 1: that Oscar Pistorius's revised jail term was still less than 418 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: half the fifteen years the prosecution had sought. The National 419 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 1: Prosecuting Authority agreed with Harry Nell that the sentence was 420 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:30,960 Speaker 1: disproportionate to the crime and could bring the entire South 421 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 1: African justice system into disrepute. The National Prosecuting Authority released 422 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:40,040 Speaker 1: a statement saying we hope that this appeal will also 423 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 1: clarify further the principles of sentencing, particularly in crime categories 424 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: for which there are prescribed minimum sentences ordained by legislation. 425 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:55,280 Speaker 1: But Judge Massepa fired back in defensive for sentencing, explaining 426 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 1: that she had given Oscar Pistorius a six year sentence 427 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: because mitigating circumstances such as rehabilitation and remorse had outweighed 428 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 1: aggravating factors such as his failure to fire a warning shot. 429 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: The BBC reported the JUDGEMENTSIPA further stated that public opinion 430 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 1: may be loud and persistent, but it can play no 431 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 1: role in the decision of this court. In South African 432 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 1: legal circles, however, there was a growing cry to write 433 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: the perceived wrong against Revasteine Camp and her surviving family. 434 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: On November twenty fourth, twenty seventeen, South Africa's Supreme Court 435 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:38,680 Speaker 1: of Appeal unanimously upheld the prosecutor's appeal against Oscar Pistorius 436 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 1: his six year sentence for the murder of Revasteine Camp. 437 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 1: Supreme Court Justice Willie Serreedi announced that the sentence of 438 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:50,320 Speaker 1: six years imprisonment is shockingly lenient, to a point where 439 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 1: it is the effect of trivializing this serious offense. Oscar's 440 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:58,640 Speaker 1: sentence was instantly doubled to thirteen years and five months. 441 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 1: Under South African law, all offenders are entitled to be 442 00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:07,040 Speaker 1: considered for parole once they have served half their total sentence. 443 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:11,240 Speaker 1: Oscar Pistorius would now be eligible for parole in twenty 444 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 1: twenty three instead of twenty nineteen. Among Oscar's visitors in 445 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:22,240 Speaker 1: prison were Barry and June's Steam Camp. Despite Oscar's increased 446 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 1: prison sentence, Reva's parents could not find peace. They needed 447 00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:30,600 Speaker 1: the conversation that Barry had told the BBC he'd wanted 448 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 1: back in twenty fourteen. They had to hear the truth 449 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:38,880 Speaker 1: directly from Oscar about their daughter's final moments. However, their 450 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 1: sit down with Oscar in June twenty twenty two did 451 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 1: not feel productive to the grief stricken Steam Camps. Barry 452 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 1: told Good Morning Britain that all June and I wanted 453 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 1: to know from Oscar was the truth. What we feel 454 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:56,360 Speaker 1: was the truth that he actually killed her because of anger. 455 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:00,640 Speaker 1: June and Barry turned their personal tragedy and lack of 456 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:04,600 Speaker 1: closure into something positive for society by forming the Reva 457 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 1: Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation to educate and empower victims of violence 458 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:12,560 Speaker 1: and abuse. But even as they poured their energy into 459 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:18,400 Speaker 1: the foundation, refocusing attention on their daughter's life, Barry's health deteriorated. 460 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:22,600 Speaker 1: On September fourteenth, twenty twenty three, less than a month 461 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 1: after he planned the commemorative fortieth birthday of Riva, Barry 462 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 1: passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. The Steenkamp family's lawyer 463 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:34,959 Speaker 1: and spokesperson, Tanya Kuhn, told News twenty three that June 464 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:36,840 Speaker 1: and the rest of the family are in a state 465 00:32:36,840 --> 00:32:39,320 Speaker 1: of shock because they did not expect this at all. 466 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:42,640 Speaker 1: Barry's health had always been a problem, but there was 467 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 1: no illness when he died. He was very emotional over 468 00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: Reva's death and so loyal. Barry could just never get 469 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:55,360 Speaker 1: over Reva's death. As June Steencamp grappled with the loss 470 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:57,760 Speaker 1: of her beloved husband a decade after the murder of 471 00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 1: her daughter, Oscar pistoria Is prepared himself for parole. After 472 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 1: serving nearly eight years of his thirteen year and five 473 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 1: month sentence, Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on January fifth, 474 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:14,240 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four. His release was met with mixed reactions 475 00:33:14,280 --> 00:33:17,480 Speaker 1: mirroring the divided public opinion that dogged the case from 476 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:20,760 Speaker 1: the beginning. Some saw his release as a second chance 477 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:23,160 Speaker 1: for a man who had paid his debt to society, 478 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:26,480 Speaker 1: while others viewed it as another reminder of the pain, 479 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:35,120 Speaker 1: tragedy and injustice of Rev. Esteemcamp's death. Since his release, 480 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:39,440 Speaker 1: Oscar has faced the daunting task of reintegrating into society. 481 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:43,320 Speaker 1: It hasn't been easy. According to The New York Post, 482 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:47,680 Speaker 1: He's been ostracized by his former pals, and while Oscar 483 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:50,160 Speaker 1: has reached out to at least two members of the 484 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:54,120 Speaker 1: International Paralympic Committee asking if they could work together in 485 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:58,800 Speaker 1: any capacity, he was quickly rebuffed. One of the committee members, 486 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 1: who received a message from Oscar explained, he's too toxic 487 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:06,920 Speaker 1: to work with now. There's nothing for him here. Perhaps 488 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:09,680 Speaker 1: this is why Oscar has turned his immediate focus to 489 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:14,960 Speaker 1: religion and charitable work. According to his parole paperwork, Oscar 490 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 1: has listed his volunteer work at n G kirk Waterklouf, 491 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,880 Speaker 1: the Dutch Reformed church which is attended by his uncle 492 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:26,600 Speaker 1: Arnold Pastorius. Oscar does light maintenance and janitorial work for 493 00:34:26,680 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 1: the church, and he quietly attends services that New York 494 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:33,640 Speaker 1: Post reported, of course, it's unlikely that Oscar will be 495 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:36,520 Speaker 1: quietly doing anything after his media ban is lifted. In 496 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 1: twenty twenty nine, the BBC speculated that Oscar's fame means 497 00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:43,840 Speaker 1: he will find a platform, and the renewed presence of 498 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:47,759 Speaker 1: Oscar on the world stage will be unwelcomed to June Steamcamp, 499 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:51,640 Speaker 1: who continues to push herself forward against all the odds 500 00:34:51,640 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 1: in honor of her daughter. My only desire is that 501 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:57,800 Speaker 1: I will be allowed to live my last years in peace, 502 00:34:58,239 --> 00:35:02,000 Speaker 1: with my focus remaining on the Viva Rebecca Steamcamp Foundation 503 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:07,839 Speaker 1: to continue Reva's legacy. June Steamcamp told the BBC, as 504 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:11,280 Speaker 1: we reflect on the story of Oscar Pastorius, the Blade Runner, 505 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:15,319 Speaker 1: we're reminded of the duality of the human spirit, the 506 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:20,799 Speaker 1: capacity for both greatness and profound depravity. Oscar's story is 507 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:25,480 Speaker 1: also forever intertwined with Reva Steamcamp, whose life was cut 508 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:30,000 Speaker 1: tragically short, but whose legacy continues through her family's foundation. 509 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 1: For more information, please visit Reva Steamcampfoundation dot org. That's 510 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:40,680 Speaker 1: r e E v A s t e e n 511 00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:49,520 Speaker 1: KA MP Foundation dot o RG. June Stemcamp's efforts to 512 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:53,640 Speaker 1: empower women is a true testament to Reva's memory, while 513 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:58,200 Speaker 1: this scandal is Oscar Pistorius's The inspirational story of the 514 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:04,480 Speaker 1: Steamcamp family strength despite immeasurable grief belongs to Reva. I'm 515 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:07,759 Speaker 1: Jay Harris and this has been Playing Dirty Sports Scandals. 516 00:36:08,239 --> 00:36:11,360 Speaker 1: Join me next week for another gripping story from the 517 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:16,640 Speaker 1: world of sports, where triumph and scandal are often served blended. 518 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 1: Playing Dirty Sports Scandals is a production of Dan Patrick Productions, 519 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:36,600 Speaker 1: Never Ever Productions and Workhouse Media from executive producers Dan Patrick, 520 00:36:36,920 --> 00:36:41,720 Speaker 1: Paul Anderson, Nick Panela, Maya Glickman, and Jennifer Claring. Hosted 521 00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:46,040 Speaker 1: by Jay Harris, Written and produced by Jen Brown, Francie Haiks, 522 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:48,000 Speaker 1: Maya Glickman, and Jennifer Clare.