I READ Connie Hall's letter, "Case brings back memories" (February 21), and my jaw hit the floor. Connie expressed the view that, regarding the Oscar Pistorius case, the media and the public were behaving "like a pack of wolves and vultures baying for blood".
The letter went further to say "I hope Oscar has the best team of legal people, like I had, and he fights the vultures and scandalmongers". Connie may be correct to say that the media may not be correct all the time and even more so with the public.
So, let us examine then the pieces of details that are irrefutable:
- Reeva Steenkamp, a beautiful, charming and smart woman, is dead;
- She died at Oscar's house from four bullet wounds;
- The bullets were shot by Oscar.
These facts can be summarised with the statement, "Oscar killed Reeva with four gunshots". Let's not talk about whether it was premeditated or that he thought she was an intruder, etc for now, because these are hazy details.
But here's something 100% fact: he took a human life. Such an act is seen as a sin by most religions, governments and societies, wouldn't you agree?
As such, a form of punishment must be passed for the sin. If society were to allow him (with his "best team of legal people") to walk away with no punishment at all, what are we saying about our country?
That we allow people to take other human lives with no consequences?
That we encourage it as long as you have the "best team of legal people"?
I should hope not!
Now, I'm not saying that we should be like wolves and "bay for blood". I'm saying that giving so much support to someone who has killed someone sends the wrong message.
Unfortunately this message has spread very quickly, as one can see people overseas are already sending their own support to Oscar. If anything, the support should all be directed towards the Steenkamp family instead.
May they find peace in these stressful times.
Ace (surname supplied), Port Elizabeth
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