Behind the Door: The Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp story

A little over a year ago, the trial was under way in South Africa. There was not a person around the world didn’t have an opinion. Every news outlet around the world reported every minute detail of the case, giving each word a little twist for the sensationalism that became tabloid fodder and a trending news story.

During this dramatic time of the drawn-out trial for all concerned it’s easy to forget that a young woman – at the peak of her life – lost hers. Her death was graphically reported in the trial, but the reasons for her death still remain unclear today.

The book ‘Behind the Door: The Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp Story’ by Mandy Wiener and Barry Batemen puts all of the facts together, while the untruths are set aside. This book sets out, and succeeds very in providing a reader with the facts. Interviews with the key players were conducted and a background makes this account incredibly informative. The truths that were accepted, and in some cases rejected, by the Court are explained and laid out for the reader. And it feels like every aspect of the investigation was covered.

Author Barry Bateman, was a reporter in Pretoria for over ten years, and is a correspondent for Eye Witness News. Mandy Wiener was a crime reporter for the past decade, and is now an accomplished author of the best seller ‘Killing Kebble’. The partnership of these two writers is a complementary, natural fit. The book itself is easy to read, well written and effortlessly allows the reader to draw their own conclusion.

The meticulous unpacking of evidence starts with the moments on Valentine’s Day of Reeva’s death: the people who were called, the time they arrived and what they saw. This sets the tone for the book – as the facts (and only the facts!) are told.

Details that were not interesting enough for the major media houses to report are also revealed. Like the application essay Reeva wrote to be accepted for her pupillage for the Johannesburg bar. This intimate piece of her history gives a kinship to Oscar and a basic common ground for the two lovers.

Articles about Oscar are also included in the book. The story reported by John Steinberg in The Guardian, of Oscar having run over – accidentally, I might add – a dog on the outskirts of a township. The dog had a broken back and after trying to find the owners, Oscar shot the dog to put it out of its misery. Perhaps stories like this are to show his humanity or to reveal larger issues in Oscar’s life.  As a bit of time has passed since the trial, the reader is allowed a time of reflection without the constant headlines to sway one’s opinion.

From the very outset, the concept of dolus eventualis was said to be the corner stone of the Oscar murder trial. An appeal that was lodged since the publication of the book might see a sequel appear, which may answer the remaining questions for Reeva’s family and the world.

Judge Masipa’s ruling summary will forever be the summation of this case: “In the current case, the accused has killed under very peculiar circumstances. There are indeed a number of aspects in the case that do not make sense”.

Why didn’t Oscar ask Reeva if she’d also heard the window opening? Why didn’t he check on Reeva? Why didn’t Reeva communicate with Oscar when she was in the toilet and he just a few meters away? Why didn’t she phone the police as Oscar has asked her to? Why did Oscar fire – not one – but four shots?

“These questions unfortunately will remain a matter of conjecture. What is not conjecture, however, is that the accused armed himself with a loaded firearm when on his own version he suspected that an intruder might be coming in through the bathroom window. He was not truthful when asked about his intentions that morning as he armed himself with a lethal weapon. The accused was clearly not candid with the court when he said he had no intention to shoot at anyone as he had a loaded firearm in his hand, ready to shoot.”

Bateman and Wiener have written a fantastic account of a terrible story that is an important account of a case that has divided a nation. Whatever happened ‘Behind the Door’ will forever remain a mystery to thousands of people – but most of Reeva’s family and friends. I think, this is a must read!