Opinion

Running from the truth? killer deserves an Oscar

The Issue: The murder charges facing South African Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who shot his girlfriend.

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Oscar Pistorius’ story of how he “accidentally” shot his girlfriend, thinking she was a burglar, is so ridiculous that his defense attorneys should be embarrassed to represent him (“How I Shot Reeva,” Feb. 20).

I know he is entitled to a defense and his attorneys must represent their client to the best of their ability, but this is worse than O.J. Simpson’s defense.

I don’t understand how the media buys this. Anyone can poke holes in the accounts of first-responder police officers who have to make snap decisions and whose goal is to help the victim first, rather than protect the crime scene or produce a detailed account with accuracy.

But that doesn’t reduce the overwhelming evidence against Pistorius.

Michael Gorman

Whitestone

I think the only person who could be happy about Pistorius is Lance Armstrong.

Brad Morris

Astoria

Pistorius’ explanation of his shooting Reeva Steenkamp is the biggest travesty to hit the front pages of any newspaper since O.J. Simpson’s monumental fictitious tale of woe.

I’m now waiting for one of Pistorius’ lawyers to announce: “If the prosthetics fit, we must acquit!”

Bill Green

East Fishkill

Because there had been previous domestic-violence incidents involving Pistorius, along with his “not realizing” that his girlfriend had not been in bed, it’s difficult to believe that he shot and killed Steenkamp in error.

Even though he appears to have wept uncontrollably in court, I still find it all suspicious.

Could it be that Pistorius is as gifted an actor as he is a blade runner? I hope justice is served.

JoAnn Lee Frank

Clearwater, Fla.