The trial of Oscar Pistorius: What Makes for a Murder?

The trial of Oscar Pistorius: What Makes for a Murder?

From I Rest My Case by Pixiu Podcasts

January 22, 2026 · 59 min · Season 1 · Episode 3

About this episode

This episode dissects the Oscar Pistorius murder trial, exploring its legal complexities and societal implications.

A gripping dissection of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial, this episode of  I Rest My Case  sees Jonathan Goldberg KC and Dean Strang unpack how a global sporting icon became the focus of one of South Africa’s most sensational court cases. Tracing events from the fatal shooting of Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013 through the original trial, appeals, and ultimate sentence, they explore South Africa’s unique blend of legal traditions, its judge-only system, and the fine gradations of “intentional murder” under South African law. Along the way, they debate the impact of televised proceedings, the role of celebrity, policing failures, restorative justice, and whether the trial judge was too lenient, before turning back to the human cost of the case and the life Reeva Steenkamp never got to live. I Rest My Case with Jonathan Goldberg KC and Dean Strang is a Pixiu Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Jonathan Goldberg KC, Dean Strang

Topics covered

  • Oscar Pistorius
  • murder trial
  • South African law
  • celebrity impact
  • legal traditions
  • restorative justice

Keywords

  • Oscar Pistorius
  • Reeva Steenkamp
  • murder trial
  • South Africa
  • legal system
  • celebrity
  • intentional murder

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Pixiu Podcasts, Acast

Places: South Africa

More episodes of I Rest My Case

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the I Rest My Case podcast page.