Skip to main content

Reeva Steenkamp must be mourned in Oscar Pistorius case - Patrick Collins

0 shares 1

View comments

Victim: Oscar Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius sits in a Pretoria dock and sobs like a child, while the watching world tries to make sense of his tragedy.

That it should come to this for a hero, a role model, a man of great fame who conquered adversity and transcended sport. As the South African justice system goes about its business, the important people in Oscar's life spring to his side.

His family, of course, but also his management company, to remind us that we are dealing not merely with an individual but with a corporation.

Reinforcing that impression, it is reported that a public relations consultant has been rushed out from the UK 'to help co-ordinate the Pistorius family's media strategy'.

Even tragedy has its priorities. And with sympathy being freely dispensed, we must not ignore the plight of Nike, that towering sports brand with an unfortunate knack of investing tens of millions of dollars on troublesome clients: Tiger Woods with his string of women, Lance Armstrong with his stash of drugs, and now Oscar Pistorius, charged with the premeditated murder of Reeva Steenkamp.

She, lest we forget, is the victim in this case.

She has suffered something more than a damaged public image. This young woman lies in a morgue, allegedly with gunshot wounds to head, chest, pelvis and hand.

Her life was ended at the age of 29, and over the next few months the details of her last moments will become public property.

In truth, her death has already made her a kind of public property. The producers of a 'reality' television show have decided, 'after much deliberation', to go ahead with her filmed appearance in their show.

One may imagine the kind of 'deliberation' which went into their tortured musings, just as one may imagine the nature of the creatures who took that decision.

We may be sure that it will not be the last time that poor Reeva suffers posthumous exploitation.

Tragedy: Pistorius appeared in court on Friday charged with Steenkamp's murder

Shock: The Blade Runner Paralympian wept in the courtroom

Her family's grief will be compounded by the knowledge that their daughter is destined to be remembered publicly for her association with the famous man who is charged with her murder.

For Oscar's celebrity was of global dimensions; the Blade Runner's triumph over stunning disability, the charming, plausible double amputee who shook up the world.

As a Hollywood biopic, it virtually wrote itself. And, of course, he did much to advance the cause of Paralympic sport.

Yet even without the benefit of hindsight, many might confess that Pistorius was not the most obviously appealing of sportsmen.

Loss: Steenkamp's life was cut short after the tragic incident at Pistorius' home in Pretoria

There was the hint of shrewd calculation beneath the smile, an awareness of his value. When Alan Oliveira beat him in the 200m at the London Paralympics, Pistorius mumbled a bogus complaint about the length of the Brazilian's blades, provoking a wave of resentment which even the best efforts of his PR advisers struggled to contain.

Now Pistorius faces adversity of a quite different dimension and it would be inhuman to withhold sympathy for the man in the Pretoria dock.

Yet there are worthier objects of our pity. For if we have tears, then we should prepare to shed them; not for Oscar Pistorius, but for Reeva Steenkamp, whose life ended so suddenly, and who is destined to form only a footnote to a desperately tragic story.

Tragic scene: Pistorius' luxury home in a gated estate in Pretoria

  More... EXCLUSIVE: Pistorius was planning new life in a new home, says former school teacher Pistorius family 'strongly refutes any murder at all' as Olympian's uncle reveals he and girlfriend Reeva had 'plans for the future' Pistorius: The two different sides to the superstar, as told by the women in his life





Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o