Oscar Pistorius Verdict, Ray Rice Fallout & New NFL Abuse Case

We’re breaking down the verdict in the Oscar Pistorius case and also examining the fallout from the Ray Rice domestic violence case, plus discussing a new NFL player who’s been indicted on charges of alleged child abuse.

Pistorius was found guilty Friday in a South African court of culpable homicide in the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He had been on trial for murder, but the judge rejected that as a conviction because she apparently did not believe that the defendant actually intended to kill Steenkamp. A sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin October 13.

During the discussion, defense attorney Mike Cavalluzzi breaks down the verdict, which he believes was appropriate based on the actual evidence presented in the case.

The judge made it clear that she did not believe Pistorius was genuinely trying to kill his girlfriend. She based that view on two witnesses that were first on the scene at Pistorius’ home after the shooting. The witnesses said that when they arrived, the defendant was crying and begging for help and praying to save Reeva’s life.

“Specifically, the judge talked about weak, circumstantial evidence that was presented by the prosecution and I think that’s what she was really focusing on,” Cavalluzzi said. He added that there was no direct evidence from eyewitnesses testimony that they saw Pistorius perpetrating any crime.

There was also no evidence presented that he had ever threatened Reeva Steenkamp before, or directly harmed her, or that the two had an abusive relationship.

“So we were left with circumstantial evidence of screams, ear witnesses, things that were heard. And I think the judge, really at the end of the day, I think it was a very measured verdict.”

But ultimately the judge also didn’t find Pistorius a completely credible witness, therefore finding him guilty of culpable homicide in the case.

Cavalluzzi says he believes the judge also rejected as not credible certain text messages entered into evidence in which Steenkamp said that she was sometimes afraid of Pistorius and other allusions to the fact that he sometimes lost his temper and could be a hothead.

Despite those statements, what was absent from any of that testimony was that he actually attempted to harm her in the past. “I do truly believe that this was the right verdict, I do not believe that the evidence supported a verdict of murder,” Cavalluzzi declared.

It is pointed out that in the ruling, the judge found that although she didn’t think the defendant was looking to kill anyone – although he was armed and in a defensive position – and said there was “no direct intent” to kill Reeva. But she also said that in her opinion, he killed someone negligently and could have pursued other options.

Cavalluzzi added that the judge should also take into account the feelings of Steenkamp’s family in the sentencing stage and if they are demanding the maximum penalty, she should certainly consider their wishes.

On the Ray Rice case, Cavalluzzi offers his opinion that because Rice has never been in trouble before, and there is no evidence that he had engaged in domestic violence before, this is why he was ordered to go into a program rather than immediately going to jail. He also said it appears that this is the course of action favored by his now-wife, Janay, who was the target of the violence.

“I know when we look at that video, it looks terrible, and it is terrible. But part of what the prosecutor does is look at the results of the offense. Are there medical records that substantiate serious injury?

“Let’s remember that when she was walking toward the elevator, she back-hands him in the face. She also inside the elevator is charging toward him and he hits her. That doesn’t excuse what he did, but what it does evidence, in my mind, is that this is not a woman who is afraid of him,” Cavalluzzi said.

The discussion also turns to whether NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handled the league’s response to the case the of Ray Rice correctly, and also takes up the latest news of Minnesota Vikings’ player Adrian Peterson, who is now being indicted on a felony charge of injury to a child in Texas.