"This matter shall receive attention at the national level." -National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega
Oscar Pistorius, double-amputee Olympian medal winner and South African icon, was charged with the murder of his beloved girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day morning. Pistorius, who had been reveled as a national hero following the 2012 Summer Olympics, is now facing charges of premeditated murder although his account and council declare that Pistorius accidentally mistaken his girlfriend for an intruder.
The facts of the case remain however that Pistorius is the shooter in the situation and Steenkamp is dead because of it. Pistorius is being represented by a team of highly-experienced, knowledgeable lawyers and publicists who have been quick to answer impending questions related to the case. Pistorius is a public figure, which makes the trial and decision that much more prone to media scrutiny.
Even though American law isn't the judge in this case, through American eye's we can make a humble opinion as to the details and specifics of the trial.
Although the cliche goes, "he became famous overnight," whoever it was that became famous surely didn't do it alone. Publicists working for Pistorius right now have a difficult situation in the works. Do you choose to represent a formerly highly regarded sports hero or the accused murder that he has been labeled?
No matter the situation, the question will remain as to what constitutes ethics first, doing your job or doing the right thing? New leads and information is coming forward daily in regards to the murder but will any significant evidence in Pistorius' favor change the image the media have created? Should a paraplegic be treated differently? If sentenced, should he be allowed to keep his prosthetic legs?
Among these tantalizing questions, the biggest issue i see is what impact will this non-United States, international story have on gun control policies in the United States?
Pistorius had multiple weapons around his house, which is common in South Africa due to high crime rates. Would this supposed murder, imagining it happened in the United States, start to have the same effect on gun control policies as has the Columbine massacre or the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting? In my opinion, the celebrity status of Pistorius brings a completely new perspective to the idea of gun control. I wonder where we are headed next in regards to gun control policies...
The facts of the case remain however that Pistorius is the shooter in the situation and Steenkamp is dead because of it. Pistorius is being represented by a team of highly-experienced, knowledgeable lawyers and publicists who have been quick to answer impending questions related to the case. Pistorius is a public figure, which makes the trial and decision that much more prone to media scrutiny.
Even though American law isn't the judge in this case, through American eye's we can make a humble opinion as to the details and specifics of the trial.
Although the cliche goes, "he became famous overnight," whoever it was that became famous surely didn't do it alone. Publicists working for Pistorius right now have a difficult situation in the works. Do you choose to represent a formerly highly regarded sports hero or the accused murder that he has been labeled?
No matter the situation, the question will remain as to what constitutes ethics first, doing your job or doing the right thing? New leads and information is coming forward daily in regards to the murder but will any significant evidence in Pistorius' favor change the image the media have created? Should a paraplegic be treated differently? If sentenced, should he be allowed to keep his prosthetic legs?
Among these tantalizing questions, the biggest issue i see is what impact will this non-United States, international story have on gun control policies in the United States?
Pistorius had multiple weapons around his house, which is common in South Africa due to high crime rates. Would this supposed murder, imagining it happened in the United States, start to have the same effect on gun control policies as has the Columbine massacre or the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting? In my opinion, the celebrity status of Pistorius brings a completely new perspective to the idea of gun control. I wonder where we are headed next in regards to gun control policies...