Oh spit.... not admissible

However...... "you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube". Clearly the Judge (and assessors) got to read the emails themselves

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

1:33 pm
Pistorius' defence team are now continuing to question Professor Derman.

He says disabled people are at a 31% higher risk of being attacked than able-bodied people.

1:29 pm
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has got his way.

Judge Masipa rules that Pistorius' defence team cannot read out Sue Kent's email to the court.

She says it is "not relevant" and is "hearsay".

1:26 pm
The court is now back in session.

Judge Masipa will soon rule on whether Pistorius' defence team can read out the email from Mrs Kent.

Before prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued against the email being read out, we did hear a snippet of it.

Mrs Kent, from Swansea, told Professor Wayne Derman after Miss Steenkamp's death:

"As a disabled woman who has come under attack, I am amazed at my automatic responses … The fight or flight response in people with a disability may be more highly developed."

She added: "I am concerned that people without disability will not understand that fight or flight responses in people with disability may be more developed."

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

2:11 pm
The judge has made an order banning the publication of intimate details from Pistorius' psychiatric report.

She then adjourned the court for the day.

The trial will continue tomorrow morning.

2:07 pm
The evidence is now getting extremely technical and detailed.

Professor Derman is talking about the inner workings of the brain to highlight the fight or flight response.

He has been showing a graph to the courtroom.

1:51 pm
His theory on why this could be is particularly interesting.

As part of the advertising slogan for the Paralympics, the athletes were dubbed "superhumans".

Professor Derman argues that this could result in attackers wanting to "pit themselves' against disabled people to see just how "superhuman" they are.

1:46 pm
Yet more fascinating evidence.

Professor Derman - who is formerly the chief medical officer of the South African Olympic and Paralympic teams - says following the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, attacks against disabled people increased.

He says a recent survey found that one in four disabled people living in London have been singled out or physically assaulted since the Paralympics.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

The State vs Oscar Pretorius (Murder 1)



Trial Day 37

Start 9:30 AM Thursday (7-3-14)

9:00AM J/Burg ----> 3:00AM ET ----> 2:00AM CT ---->1:00AM MT ---->12:00AM PT
(Times amended to include US clocks moved one hour forward)





Links for Live Streaming

telegraph.co.uk: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... trial.html

wildabouttrial: http://www.wildabouttrial.com/one_off/o ... ve-stream/

channel24.co.za: http://www.channel24.co.za/TV/News/DStv ... d-20140228

mybroadband.co.za: http://mybroadband.co.za/news/internet/ ... aming.html

Mirror.co.uk: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... es-3201648




Twitter

wildabouttrial: https://twitter.com/wildabouttrial

#pretorius https://twitter.com/search?q=%23pretorius&src=hash

Oscar Trial Channel: https://twitter.com/oscartrial199

Factual Updates https://twitter.com/OscarHardTruth

GeraldImrayAP: https://twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP

Karyn Maughan (Legal journalist at eNCA): https://twitter.com/karynmaughan



Live Blog

Mirror: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... es-3201648

Sky: http://news.sky.com/story/1225139/live- ... rder-trial

Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/m ... rius-trial

telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... -live.html

dailymaverick: http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/

enca.com http://www.enca.com/

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Daily Mirror - Live Blog

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... ve-3802367


7:54 am
Good morning and welcome to our live blog where we will be covering the trial of Oscar Pistorius.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

8:41 am
Pistorius' defence team now going over what happened on the night Miss Steenkamp was killed.

Professor Derman is asked about Pistorius' evidence when he told the court he was feeling 'vulnerable' yet he approached what he thought was the danger in his home.

"The approach after a startled response is consistent with a fight or flight approach", he says.

8:34 am
The court is now in session.

Professor Wayne Derman, who works at the University of Cape Town, and was formerly the chief medical officer of the South African Olympic and Paralympic teams, is back giving evidence.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

9:12 am
Pistorius has "a lifetime of real and learnt vulnerability as a consequence of his disability" says Professor Derman.

He adds that the athlete has suffered "multiple traumatic events and losses in his early life."

It is worth remembering too that Professor Derman may well be the final witness of this trial.

9:08 am
Professor Derman seems to be relishing speaking in court.

He has been discussing the problems faced by disabled people in everyday life.

8:59 am
Professor Derman says there is a "paradox" with Pistorius that is "difficult to understand".

"You have a paradox of an individual who is supremely able and an individual who is significantly disabled" he told the court.

"The template of him with his arms out crossing the finishing line competing in able-bodied competitions represents his triumph over his disability."

He says the "difference in this template causes a significant amount of stress and anxiety."

8:53 am
The professor tells the court that the athlete has fought hard against the stigma of disability.

But he adds: "The truth is that he does not have any lower legs."

8:48 am
Professor Derman was asked why Pistorius didn't just run away if he thought there was a danger in his home.

He replies by saying: "In this case fleeing is not an option...no legs...so other option is to fight, approaching danger is understandable."

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

9:48 am
We are now back onto the night of Miss Steenkamp's death.

Professor Derman tells the court the noise from the bathroom on the night of her death led Pistorius to think there was a threat.

He again refers to the flight or fight response.

9:41 am
Pistorius' defence team are building up an image of the athlete being a vulnerable, anxious man who often felt defenceless.

This is one of the reasons why he bought a firearm, the court is told

9:38 am
Pistorius' defence team are now reading from the psychologist's report which was yesterday censored by the judge.

It reveals that the athlete suffers from agoraphobia - an anxiety of public places.

The 27-year-old feels defenceless with his prosthesis on, the court hears.

"I am stuffed without them", Pistorius told the psychologist.

9:27 am
Professor Derman is asked if the start training from athletics can relate to Pistorius' response when he heard a sound in the toilet on the night Steenkamp was killed.

9:23 am
The witness has been talking about how athletics training has "conditioned" Pistorius to react to a loud noise.

Obviously, races start following a gun shot.

Pistorius' lawyer Kenny Oldwage asks Professor Derman if this can create conditioning in a person. He replies it can.

It is clear where this line of questioning is going.

9:16 am
Oscar Pistorius has a "profound fear of crime" , the court is told.

Professor Derman says "he is aware of crime and home invasions that have occurred within the estate where he resides."

The defence team appear to be enjoying this witness.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Olwage finished, (sort of)

Wants a break (of course this is SA) just to check

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

10:34 am
Professor Derman tells the court he consulted with Pistorius once before the trial and before the athlete's psychological evaluation.

He says his report presented to court is a summary of both occasions.

The court has now adjourned for a short break.

10:14 am
This is a picture of Pistorius from the courtroom this morning.

His tie can be seen being adjusted by his uncle Arnold.

10:07 am
Professor Derman agrees that as a doctor he should act in the best interests of his patient.

Nel is enjoying this. He says because of this, the professor cannot be objective in court.

Derman replies: I have been very, very careful to back up with scientific evidence all of the points that I have made.

"I would not risk my reputation to come here with a bias report."

10:04 am
Nel is playing on the fact that Professor Derman knows Pistorius very well.

The prosecutor appears to be getting under his skin.

On more than one occasion, Professor Derman replies: "What is your question?"

10:02 am
Nel asks Derman what is the purpose of him giving evidence.

He replies that he is a "expert witness" and is giving evidence on his knowledge of Pistorius and his knowledge of the startle response.

Nel now questions whether he is more of a character witness than an expert witness.

9:58 am
Pistorius' defence team have finished quizzing Professor Derman.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel is now cross-examining him.

This could get rather feisty.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Tea Break

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

11:09 am
Nel is really gunning for him now.

Derman has admitted he did take a note.

11:06 am
Derman is asked by Nel why didn't he take notes after talking to Pistorius about what happened.

He says he didn't feel like he needed to take notes.

11:02 am
It is all getting rather tasty again between Professor Derman and prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

"You knew all along that your findings would be used to interpret the facts?" asks Nel.

After three times of asking, Derman agrees with him.

10:59 am
The court is now back in session.

Derman disagrees with the prosecutor that the evidence he is giving is relevant to why Pistorius shot his girlfriend.

10:54 am
It will be interesting to see how Nel deals with Professor Derman following the tea break.

His approach seems to be to destroy his credibility as an expert witness rather than focus on his evidence.

The court is due back in session any moment now.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

11:25 am
Professor Derman is asked by Nel if his analysis given in evidence would still hold up if the court rejects Pistorius' claim that he thought an intruder was in the bathroom.

He says it would 'still be true'.

This is proving to be a very bruising encounter.

11:17 am
Nel is asking Professor Derman about the fight or flight response and the startle response.

Again, obvious tensions appear between the pair with Derman asking the prosecutor to ask him a question.

11:11 am
Professor Derman is certainly under a lot of pressure now.

He is not speaking with the confidence that he was earlier and is muttering and stumbling.

Nel appears to be enjoying this.

He now asks the professor about his report that Oscar heard a sound he 'believed to be the magazine rack'.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

11:34 am
We are now back to the night of Steenkamp's death.

Nel, pictured below, asks Professor Derman about his understanding of Pistorius' reactions on the night he killed the model.

Again, both men clash.

Nel says to the professor: "You have to listen to the question and just answer the question I am asking."

Later, Derman says to Nel: "You are putting statements to me and expecting me to respond".

Think its fair to say neither of these men will be enjoying a drink together once the trial is over.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

11:48 am
Professor Derman is certainly fighting back against Nel's rather brutal questioning.

He refuses to answer a series of questions saying he does not understand what Nel is saying.

"I cannot make head or tail out of that question", he says at one point.

They are both debating over the 'time-lapse' in the fight response on the night Miss Steenkamp died.

11:46 am
Professor Derman asks for the judge to intervene with Nel's questioning.

"I would really ask for your help with this. I do not think that it is professional for Mr Nel to say this is not true," he says.

The judge agrees and makes Nel retract his comment.

11:41 am
Nel is focusing on Pistorius' reactions on the night of Miss Steenkamp's death.

He is trying to work out the thinking time that Pistorius may have had.

At one point, Derman refuses to answer Nel's "vague" question.

Professor Derman seems to be losing his temper. Nel is clearly getting to him.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

12:11 pm
The court has now adjourned for lunch.

After watching this morning's evidence, nobody could blame Professor Derman if he wished to go into a dark room and sit alone for a while, quietly sobbing.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel showed exactly why he has a fearsome reputation as he attempted to completely destroy Derman's credibility as an expert witness.

Savage stuff.

12:04 pm
The professor says the prosecutor is making him 'very confused'.

Nel is attempting to ask if there is a chance Pistorius fired a gun without being in fight mode.

The professor says no studies have been completed to determine a fight response's duration.

However, Nel says this is a contradiction on what the professor previously said.

He had earlier suggested that a second startle was required, Nel says.

It is very technical stuff but the battle between Nel and Professor Derman is fascinating.

11:54 am
Now Nel appears to be getting frustrated.

Professor Derman says to the judge: "I am finding that Mr Nel's questions are not direct enough for me to answer the question."

This is one of Nel's cutting comments back to the professor.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

LUNCH

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light