“A Fall from Grace”, that was the line that the reporter used to begin the radio news report describing the situation of Oscar Pistorius the South African athlete now accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Pistorius is a double amputee who runs wearing carbon fiber prosthetic blades. He has been a much admired athelete in South Africa for years and he gained global recognition last year when he earned the right to run in The Olympics and the Paralympics. He ran in 11 races during the 2012 Games and the Paralympics. His carbon fiber prosthetic blades earned him the nickname ‘Blade Runner’.
What could have gone wrong that fateful night? He was a 26 year old young man who, to outward appearances, had it all. He was handsome (People Magazine named him one of the “sexiest men alive”). He lived in a prestigious gated community. He was accomplished at his sport and had world fame. Reeva Steenkamp was a beautiful model, a law school graduate, and a entrepreneur commited to empowering women. She was a outspoken advoacate for women and often spoke against violence towards women. How did she end up dead? Was it a case of pure violence by a man against the woman he lived with? Or, was it, as a news report today speculated, that he was prone to violence due to the steroids he was taking?
Regardless, where do you think grace fits into the scenario? Steenkamp’s family have taken the high road saying that they will wait for justice to be served by the court. Justice will unfold and the story will be unravelled but at the end of it Reeva Steenkamp is dead at the hands of her lover. He will need grace, amazing grace.
