Bladerunner Trial Question...

[Steve5D]

As Oscar Pistorius is on trial, a question arises: When witnesses address the lawyers in the case, they refer to them as "M'lady".

The lawyers are men.

Can anyone shed some light on why the lawyers are addressed that way?

 

[pixmedic]

because, in the south african legal system, even though the lawyer is asking the questions, the person on the stand is always addressing the Judge. since the judge is a woman, it is "my lady".
so, technically, no matter who is asking the question, he is always directing his answer to the judge.

 

[sm4him]

because, in the south african legal system, even though the lawyer is asking the questions, the person on the stand is always addressing the Judge. since the judge is a woman, it is "my lady".

^Yep, THAT. I'd noticed the same thing and wondered about it, then realized that he was addressing the female judge.

 

[Steve5D]

Huh.

Well, that makes sense.

Thanks, Jason!

 

[runnah]

ugh I was thinking Harrison Ford Bladerunner.

Which I should watch again.

 

[Designer]

The prosecutor gets to badger the witness, too.

 

[runnah]

This is where I would normally say something tasteless like "the defendant doesn't have a leg to stand on", but considering the nature of the case this is no laughing matter.

 

[Derrel]

This is where I would normally say something tasteless like "the defendant doesn't have a leg to stand on", but considering the nature of the case this is no laughing matter.

Oh runnah...you're a real pistol!

 

[SnappingShark]

Roses are red,
Violets are glorious,
Don't try to surprise,
Oscar Pistorius.

They're obviously going to make a movie about this - The Silence of the Limbs.

Still nobody knows the odds on him walking - even if he was armed.

 

[Designer]

Is anybody buying his excuse?

 

[Steve5D]

Is anybody buying his excuse?

I haven't been following the case much at all, but wonder what the motive could've been?

 

[Designer]

Is anybody buying his excuse?

I haven't been following the case much at all, but wonder what the motive could've been?

Lover's (?) quarrel. Perhaps she wanted to leave him. She has said she was afraid of him. Anyway, closing and locking the bathroom door was not something he was willing to ignore.

 

[Steve5D]

Is anybody buying his excuse?

I haven't been following the case much at all, but wonder what the motive could've been?

Lover's (?) quarrel. Perhaps she wanted to leave him. She has said she was afraid of him. Anyway, closing and locking the bathroom door was not something he was willing to ignore.

What motive has the prosecution put forth?

 

[Designer]

I haven't been following the case much at all, but wonder what the motive could've been?

Lover's (?) quarrel. Perhaps she wanted to leave him. She has said she was afraid of him. Anyway, closing and locking the bathroom door was not something he was willing to ignore.

What motive has the prosecution put forth?

I don't think they have put into words exactly, but they were going on about his bad temper and predilection toward using guns.

 

[Steve5D]

Lover's (?) quarrel. Perhaps she wanted to leave him. She has said she was afraid of him. Anyway, closing and locking the bathroom door was not something he was willing to ignore.

What motive has the prosecution put forth?

I don't think they have put into words exactly, but they were going on about his bad temper and predilection toward using guns.

Neither of which is illegal in South Africa, so far as I know. I also think it would be difficult to prove that the motive for murder was that he has a bad temper and owns a gun. That's not really a motive but, rather, a set of circumstances...