Latest news with #Henke
The South African
a day ago
- The South African
Oscar Pistorius's dad wants to debate Gerrie Nel over murder trial 'LIES'
Oscar Pistorius's dad, Henke, has challenged state prosecutor Gerrie Nel to debate on the 'facts' surrounding his son's murder sentence for the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The former Paralympian shot and killed his partner after mistaking her for a home intruder at his Pretoria mansion. He has served half of his 13 years and five months behind bars, and is now on parole. Henke believes his son is guilty of manslaughter and has accused the state of being 'incompetent' and 'liars'. Speaking on the Piers Morgan Uncensored show last week, Oscar Pistorius's dad Henke accused the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of being 'incompetent and dishonest' He particularly accused state prosecutor Gerrie Nel of 'misleading and lying to the court' Challenging him to a one-on-one, Henke said: 'I want to offer to have a debate with Gerrie Nel live on TV. I would love it'. Oscar Pistorius's dad Henke says he is not guilty of murder. Images via SIPHIWE SIBEKO for AFP/ YouTube screenshot: Piers Morgan Uncensored Henke said that Oscar – who had 'no intention to kill' – was 'mauled' by Gerrie in the courtroom. Oscar was just an athlete. Here he was faced with a guy called the 'Bulldog' by the press. It was so unfair to leave him exposed to a guy like that. Henke demanded the 'same rules as court' in his face-off with Gerrie Nel. 'I ask the questions, he can just say 'yes or no'. Let's see if he will accept that, please'. Oscar Pistorius – who shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp on 14 February 2013 – was convicted of culpable homicide in October 2014. This was later upgraded to murder in December 2015. He was handed a six-year prison sentence. However, the Supreme Court of Appeal increased his jail term to 13 years and five months following an unsuccessful appeal in November 2017. In January 2024, Oscar was released on parole after serving half of his sentence behind bars. He will serve the remainder of his sentence under strict parole conditions until it expires in 2029. In 2017, Gerrie Nel – nicknamed the 'Bulldog' over his tenacity in the courtroom – retired from the NPA. He has since joined AfriForum's private prosecuting unit. Coincidentally, he joins Barry Bateman – AfriForum's spokesperson – who defended Oscar Pistorius during his high-profile trial. As in the case against Oscar, Gerrie has helped to prosecute the following high-profile people… George Bizos's son Alexi for assaulting his wife, Monique van Oosterhout University of Cape Town Professor Pierre de Vos for allegedly distributing child pornography on social media. Businessman Jaco Swart, whose brutal assault against his wife Nicoleen went viral in 2028. He is also representing the following cases; Bergview College Principal Jaco Pieterse who was implicated in the alleged rape of Cwecwe The family of the late Senzo Meyiwa, the Orlando Pirates goalkeeper who was killed in 2014. The widow of police detective Charl Kinnear, who was killed in 2020. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
Oscar Pistorius's dad says he is NOT guilty of murder
Oscar Pistorius's father, Henke, has strongly denied claims that his son murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, more than a decade ago. Instead, the billionaire businessman claims that the former Paralympian was only guilty of manslaughter. Last year, Oscar was granted parole after serving half of his 13-year and five-month murder sentence behind bars. He will serve the remainder of his sentence under strict surveillance until it expires in 2029. In 2014, Reeva was shot and killed after the double amputee athlete reportedly mistook her for a home intruder at his Pretoria mansion. Speaking on the Piers Morgan Uncensored show last week, Oscar Pistorius's dad shared his views about his son's sentence. He said, 'My opinion has nothing to do with race. It has to do with poor judicial representation and the incompetent and dishonest behaviour of state prosecutors. 'He doesn't agree with me at all; in fact, he would talk to me about it. '[Murder and manslaughter] are two vastly big things. Oscar is not guilty of murder'. Henke went on to accuse state prosecutor Gerrie Nel of 'misleading and lying to the court' Henke also sensationally claimed that a 'leading judge in South Africa' approached him with comments echoing his own sentiments. The mining and property developer said his son Oscar Pistorius has 'no intention to kill' as his gun fired only four bullets. When Piers Morgan argued that four bullets were enough to kill a person – namely Reeva Steenkamp – Henke shot back: 'You clearly do not have the facts'. He added: 'It's a no-brainer'. When asked what he believed did happen, Henke said: 'Oscar was full of fear. He will one day tell his own story. I can't speak for him.' However, he continued: 'He was forced to accept he is guilty and that he's a murderer, which is such a pathetic insult to the law in South Africa. He is hurt and broken. He believes he is guilty and it's not correct.' Oscar Pistorius – who shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp on 14 February 2013 – was convicted of culpable homicide in October 2014. This was later upgraded to murder in December 2015. He was handed a six-year prison sentence. However, the SCA increased his jail term to 13 years and five months following an unsuccessful appeal in November 2017. Like Oscar Pistorius's dad, Henke, his older brother Carl also does not believe he is guilty of murder. In 2023, Carl responded to The South African' s questions about Oscar's sentence and parole bid. He said, 'What is 'rehabilitation'? What do you mean by 'served his time'? Such fundamental questions with such complex answers. He continued: 'He [Oscar] was rehabilitated before he went in. He will spend his life serving a self-imposed sentence of guilt for a tragic but honest mistake because we, as a rainbow nation, have failed one another. 'If you're asking if his constitutional rights have been infringed upon, yes, absolutely.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Oscar Pistorius' father reveals he and his son barely speaks to him
Pistorius' father claims that Oscar was failed by the South African justice system. Convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius' father has revealed that he has fallen out with his son because the Paralympian has 'accepted' his conviction for the death of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The 38-year-old double amputee, dubbed 'Blade Runner' for the prosthetics he used to compete in the Olympics and Paralympics, served nine years behind bars for shooting Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013. Pistorius claimed he woke in the early hours thinking a burglar was breaking in, and was unaware Steenkamp was in the bathroom. 'Full of fear; In an interview with UK talk show host Piers Morgan Uncensored last week, Pistorius's father, Henke, said he believes the Paralympian was 'full of fear' during his trial and accepted his prison sentence. Henke claims that Pistorius was 'failed' by the justice system. 'He was forced to just accept that he's guilty and that he's a murderer, which is such a pathetic insult to the law in South Africa. But that is what happened, and he's been hurt and broken, and that's what he believes now'. WATCH Henke Pistorius speaking to Piers Morgan "I'm already in trouble with Oscar as I'm sitting here as I've said too much." Henke Pistorius says his son has been "hurt and broken" into believing he is guilty of murder – but "the facts say something totally different." Watch more👇 📺 — Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) May 29, 2025 ALSO READ: Oscar Pistorius finds love after release from jail for murder of Reeva Steenkamp – reports Oscar's story Asked about what he thought happened, Henke said Oscar will have a story to tell. 'Oscar will one day tell his story. He is at the moment I am sure very sad and very sorry about what had happened. I can't speak for him, he will speak for himself 'But, what happened is not what came out in court, and I am one of hundreds of people who will say that this case will stand as a very negative example of the jurisdiction of justice in South Africa. But, I am already in trouble with Oscar as I'm sitting here and said too much,' Henke said. Race? Asked about whether race played a role in the trial and if he was in any way a racist, Henke said his opinion has 'nothing to do with racism.' 'What my opinion is has nothing to do with racists. It's got to do with very poor judicial representation, number one, incompetent. And number two, of dishonest behaviour of the state prosecutor… Oscar is just now in a stage where he's on parole, and he doesn't agree with me at all. 'In fact, he wouldn't talk to me about it because he disagrees with me. I just think that he will feel later, to walk away after parole as a person guilty of manslaughter versus a person guilty of murder, two vastly big things, and Oscar is not guilty of murder,' Henke said. ALSO READ: Oscar Pistorius back at home State got it wrong Henke claims that he had spoken to several judges about Oscar's case, adding that the state could not prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the Paralympian wanted to kill Steenkamp. 'The firearm was part of the evidence in court. There were thirteen bullets left after Oscar used four. Why would he only use four if he wanted to kill her? It shows you the state couldn't prove murder beyond a reasonable doubt'. Prison sentence Oscar opened fire on Steenkamp while she was standing behind his locked bathroom door, killing her instantly with special 'dum dum' bullets – but Reeva's family have always claimed it was intentional. Pistorius was initially sentenced to six years in jail in 2016 by North Gauteng High Court Judge Thokozile Masipa. That sentence was later overturned by the SCA in 2017 and increased to an effective 13 years and five months. Henke admitted that his refusal to accept Oscar's guilt has caused a rift between the two. 'Oscar is out on parole now. He knows how I feel. He thinks he's guilty of murder. That's why we're stuck. He doesn't want to talk to me about this. Oscar is not guilty of murder. We last spoke at the beginning of the year' Parole While Pistorius is effectively a free man, he was assigned a monitoring correctional services official to work with him until his sentence expires in 2029, and he cannot move out of the Waterkloof area without notifying correctional services. Pistorius swapped his adapted cell for his very own fortified 'Oscar cottage' on his property tycoon uncle's sprawling estate, which boasts a R47 million mega mansion, which, coincidentally, is a remodelled rectory of a former Dutch Reformed Church. New love In October last year, the Steenkamp family's lawyer, Tania Koen, told The Citizen the family's view has always been that Pistorius had the same rights as any other offender. In December last year, The Citizen reported that Oscar found new love, just months after being released from prison on parole. Oscar, who lives with his uncle in Pretoria, has apparently started a relationship with a business management consultant and a long-term family friend from Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga. ALSO READ: The strict parole conditions Oscar Pistorius will face once released
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Oscar Pistorius' dad reveals rift with killer son because he DOESN'T accept disgraced Olympian murdered Reeva Steenkamp
THE dad of disgraced murderer Oscar Pistorius says the pair hardly speak anymore as he doesn't accept his son is a killer. Former Olympic sprinter Pistorius shot dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013 - but father Henke believes he was "full of fear" during his trial and accepted his jail sentence. 6 Henke Pistorius meets son Oscar as the estranged father says the pair hardly speak anymore Credit: AP:Associated Press 6 The disgraced runner shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead in 2013 Credit: Getty 6 Henke still doesn't accept his son is a killer Credit: YouTube Henke has now publicly admitted in a candid interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored that his refusal to accept his son's guilt has created a rift in their relationship. Pistorius hit Reeva, 29, with four bullets fired through the locked door of their bathroom in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013. After a round of appeals and challenges, Pistorius - dubbed the "Blade Runner" because of his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs - was sentenced to 13 years and five months for murder. Pistorius, a six-time six Paralympic gold medallist, has always claimed the horrific shooting was a mistake. He told the court he thought his model and law graduate partner was an intruder. The sprinter was released after nine years back in January 2024. He has since vanished from the public eye and is trying to live a quiet life alongside his rumoured new girlfriend. But Henke has now told Oscar as I'm sitting here, because I said too much. Most read in The US Sun "We don't [speak regularly] because he knows how I feel. To him, he's guilty of murder because of the process that he's gone through. "The facts just do not support a finding of guilty of murder. Oscar Pistorius FREED on parole nearly 11 years after murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp "I just think that he will feel later, to walk away after parole as a person guilty of manslaughter versus a person guilty of murder, two vastly big things, and Oscar is not guilty of murder.' Pistorius was initially found guilty of culpable homicide, South Africa 's equivalent of manslaughter, in court . A year later, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling and found him guilty of murder. Henke continued: 'Obviously, Oscar was full of fear. Oscar will one day tell his story. "He is, at the moment, I'm sure, very sad and very sorry about what happened. "I can't speak for him. He will speak for himself, but what happened is not what came out of the court." Despite being freed from prison , Pistorius remains on parole. He moved into his wealthy uncle's £2 million Pretoria home, and now relies on him for protection. His tycoon uncle Arnold, who made his millions from property and tourism, hired armed guards with attack dogs, while his nephew lives in a cottage on the grounds. Pistorius' sentence ends in 2029 and he is subject to certain conditions for life outside jail. Read more on the Irish Sun These include attending therapy for anger and 'gender-based violence issues". Steenkamp family friend previously said Pistorius should not expect forgiveness and issued a stark warning to him. 6 Reeva Steenkamp was killed on Valentine's Day in 2013 Credit: Getty 6 Pistorius leaving the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria back in 2014 Credit: Reuters 6 Oscar Pistorius served nine years behind bars before he was released on parole Credit: PA
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Drones are fast becoming 'much more lethal,' and this is only the beginning, US Army officer says
The US Army is closely watching drone warfare in Ukraine and the Middle East. What it's learning is that drones are becoming deadlier, and the technology is evolving fast. A top Army officer outlined some of the ways the US is readying for future fights. As the US Army closely watches the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, military planners are gathering critical intelligence about drones and how they're being used in combat. Among the lessons being learned are that drones are fast becoming much deadlier and that US soldiers need to be ready to defend themselves from the evolving threat, an Army officer told Business Insider. And what the world is seeing unfold in conflicts now might be just the beginning. "We're seeing the technology advance faster," said Col. Glenn Henke, commandant and chief of the Army's Air Defense Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. But it's not just the technology that's advancing; it's how the tech is being employed in combat. The Ukraine war ushered in a new era of drone warfare that has been unprecedented in scope and scale. Uncrewed systems are used for reconnaissance and strike missions on the ground, in the air, and at sea, and both Kyiv and Moscow are constantly trying to innovate with their technology to stay one step ahead of the enemy. In the sprawling conflicts in the Middle East, drones have been employed by a number of actors, including the US, Israel, Iran, and Tehran-backed groups across the region, from Lebanon down to Yemen. In the Red Sea, American warships have squared off against attack drones in a sustained first-of-its-kind fight. "I think we're kind of at the front end of this. So, the evolution of the capability is happening very quickly," Henke said. "The evolution of how it's being employed is happening very quickly. I don't think any of us believe that we've seen the plateauing of what is in the realm of the possible." "We still think it's sort of ahead of us," he said. "The platforms are becoming much more capable, much more lethal." The defenses that work one day may not be as effective the next. Henke oversees the Army's Joint C-sUAS (Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System) University, or JCU, where American servicemembers learn to identify, engage, and defeat hostile drones. It is just one element of the military's broad response to the rising threat of uncrewed systems. While US troops have not faced the kind of large-scale drone warfare seen in Ukraine, they have gotten a taste of the action. Since October 2023, Iran-backed groups have launched scores of drone attacks against American bases and assets in the Middle East. The US military has, for the most part, defeated these attacks, but there have been losses. In January 2024, a drone managed to slip past the defenses at Tower 22, a small military outpost in Jordan. It struck the facility, killing three soldiers and wounding dozens more. The deadly attack highlighted the threat these systems pose and the need for greater readiness. Late last year, the Pentagon unveiled a new counter-drone strategy to meet the challenges presented by its adversaries, who are rapidly developing drone capabilities. "These cheap systems are increasingly changing the battlefield, threatening US installations, and wounding or killing our troops," then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at the time. When it comes to drone defense, Henke said, "one of the enduring lessons that we've seen in many cases is focusing on the command and control aspects of this and bringing in all of this into the single C2." He explained that the Army is very focused on its next-generation C2 initiative, "which would streamline some of the command and control software that we use" and "allow us to bring everything onto sort of a single pane of glass." Henke said that the Army is also focused on distributing counter-drone equipment at different levels. At the division level, for instance, this includes the Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System, or LIDS. This system comes in fixed and mobile variants and is designed to defend against higher-end drone threats, as opposed to the smaller, quadcopter-style systems running rampant in Ukraine. There's also an effort to proliferate capabilities down to individual soldiers, squads, and platoons, too. Last year, BI observed US soldiers training with the mobile Smart Shooter and Dronebuster devices, which use kinetic (physical strike) and non-kinetic (electronic warfare) methods to defeat small drones, respectively. The challenge, though, is that "it's not reasonable for me to figure out what I'm going to buy three years from now, knowing how quickly this technology is moving," Henke said, emphasizing the idea of "flexible funding" to ensure the Army can pivot to procure new capabilities as the drone threat evolves. Read the original article on Business Insider
