The Silent Witness Speaks: Forensics in the Oscar Pistorius Trial
Oscar Pistorius was a world renowned Paralympian was the first person ever to participate as a disabled person in the Olympic Games in London in 2012. After the Games he was one of the most recognized and respected sportsmen in the world. Oscar Pistorius is a double leg amputee whose athletic prosthetics were light, flexible metal blades. This earned him the title “blade runner.” Competitors complained that the prosthetics, amazingly enough, actually gave Oscar an advantage over runners who sped along on their own, natural born, feet. Oscar had been born without a fibula in either of his legs. His parents had consented to amputation while he was still an infant, but the lack of legs didn’t seem to slow Oscar down. The surgery was performed before his first birthday, and he quickly learned to walk on prosthetics. When he grew older, he participated in a variety of sports, including cricket, rugby and wrestling. He first tasted success at the Paralympics in Athens in 2008 and went on to win an Olympic medal in the Olympics in 2012 in London -- the first ever disabled athlete to do so.
In February 2013, at the height of his fame, Oscar was visited by his girlfriend, the lovely model Reeva Steenkamp. Reeva had a Bachelor of Laws degree, and worked as a paralegal and a model.
On the morning of February 14, 2013, Reeva was found dead in Oscar’s house. She was killed in a toilet cubicle when he fired four shots through the locked door. Realizing his mistake he broke down the door and carried her downstairs where she died. Oscar confessed to having fired the shots, saying that he mistook her for an intruder. He was first convicted of culpable manslaughter; then, after an appeal, the verdict was murder.
Some people believe that Oscar and Reeva argued, and that he fired the shots in anger and that it was not an accident.
Curiously, forensic evidence did not play a major part in the trial. It is possible because of two reasons: the first is because the police investigation was seriously flawed, and a lot of evidence not reliable. Secondly, forensics was not necessary to find the shooter, victim or gun as Oscar did not deny having fired the fatal shots.
However, after the trial a number of people started raising questions about the forensics, arguing that a lot of evidence had been overlooked, ignored or misinterpreted. The claims are that the physical evidence tells a different story from that presented throughout the trial. Eugene Both, having been part of the news team that followed the story, is uniquely placed to have experts examine the evidence that was ignored or missed during the trial. He explains that this is not an effort to re-try Oscar Pistorius; rather, it is an effort to make to allow the forensic evidence, the so-called Silent Witnesss, to tell the full story, and to investigate the serious claims that have come to the fore after the trial.
For the documentary forensic experts from all over the globe will be co-opted to give their opinion on the issues that have been raised and these include claims that the toilet was flushed seconds before Reeva was shot, strange blood stain patterns, unexplained wounds on the deceased’s body and a proper acoustic investigation.
Based in South Africa where the event took place, film maker Eugene Botha is in position to direct the filming of the documentary which will be shot on location in South Africa, the UK and USA. His brother, Louis, based in New Zealand is co-producing the film and is in charge of the fundraising – in particular, the Kickstarter Crowdfunding Campaign.
Anna Teichert, an award winning director and co-director of Blue Marble Entertainment, will be in charge of the editing of the film. She is a partner in Blue Marble, and also was involved in the media coverage of the trial, along with Eugene. Both of them feel strongly that the allegations raised are so serious that it warrants a proper investigation.
Blue Marble Entertainment is a well-known award winning Production Company in South Africa and has the staff, facilities, equipment and track record to make the film a success (www.blue-marble.co.za). The funding will be used to create the documentary, which will include interviews with investigative experts in South Africa, the UK and the US. The claims of people who believe that there were irregularities in the trial will also be thoroughly investigated. The whole affair has judicial significance in South Africa, and the team believes that it is important to let the Silent Witness: Forensics speak for itself. They are in a unique position to do this, having already followed the trial as it unfolded.
The State appealed the verdict where Oscar Pistorius was found guilty of manslaughter and the appeal was upheld: Pistorius was found guilty of murder. His first sentence of 5 years was set aside and he is to be re-sentenced in April as the final pronouncement of his sentence will take place in April 2016. He is currently out on bail.
By making a pledge to support its production, you not only assist in allowing the Silent Witness to speak, but you will also receive regular updates, behind the scenes footage, crime scene photographs, a video tour of the empty house and even new publications on the case. You will experience this unique investigation from the inside and will be invited to an on-line world premiere of the film.
Dr. Eugene Botha
Blue Marble Entertainment
www.blue-marble.co.za
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