The Oscar Pistorius Trial

By Mari Garcia
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O s c a r P i s t o r i u s Tr i a l
Na t a l Ch a r t 3 M ar 2014, M on 11:30 am EET -2:00 Pretoria, South Afric a 25S45' 028E10'

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Geoc entric Tropi c al Whol e Signs True Node

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THE TRIAL

n the 3rd March 2014, South Africa and the world prepared themselves for what has been billed as the Trial of the Century. The adversaries are the Government of South Africa prosecuting a murder charge against popular and successful athlete, Oscar

Pistorius. The charge is that of the premeditated murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp who was shot to death. I have followed the story since the case first came to prominence in February 2013 and out of interest, I wanted to observe whether the chart of the beginning of the formal court case could indicate: a) what happened; and, b) what the outcome would be. So, this is a bit of a test in broadening my horary experience.

In a horary chart, the 1st house represents the querent, but because in this instance we are dealing with an event chart, we must consider our options of the proper significator. There are some contradictory arguments over the proper significators. Ibn Ezra describes the 7th as having to do with

The Oscar Pistorius Trial By Mari Garcia

quarrels while Lilly says that the 1st house represents the prosecution, in this case the government, and the 7th house is the house of the defendant.1 The Government, as the prosecution is signified by the Taurus Ascendant2 ruled by Venus, in Capricorn in the 9th house squaring Mars and the Nodal Axis. With no dignity in Capricorn and in a cadent house and corrupted by the square to the malefic, Mars, the lord of the Ascendant, Venus has very little to help it along. An important factor is that Venus aspects the Ascendant suggesting that the prosecution is reasonably plugged in to the case. Venus will determine the strength of the case against Pistorius and also the direction the Government wants to take. The time for the start of the trial was delayed but on-line reports show the trial commencing at 11:30 am in Pretoria, South Africa.3 With Venus somewhat debilitated, the prosecution will have to work very hard and will try and make the most of what it has, given that Pistorius does not deny he shot Reeva Steenkamp, saying he had mistaken her for an intruder. The prosecutions intent is to prove that Pistorius intentionally murdered his girlfriend but the success of it may not be clear cut or may need more than just the evidence to date. The only other aspect to Venus is a square from Mars the lord of the 7th house and significator of the defense and of Pistorius. Scorpio is on the cusp of the 7th house and signifies the defendant, Pistorius. The lord of the 7th house is Mars is in its detriment in Libra, retrograde, conjunct the North Node and located in the cadent 6th house. Mars as a significator is descriptive of the defendant: Oscar Pistorius is an Olympian, a well-known and popular athlete who has made his name in athletics by running on prosthetic blades instead of human legs. Pistoriuss legs were amputated below the knee when he was an infant. The debilitated nature of the Mars provides, on one hand, a good description of an athlete who is outside the norm and at the same time also signifies the condition of his case at the trial which seems to be difficult and detrimental to him. Marss conjunction to the North Node also mirrors the physical and martial attributes for which Pistorius is known. His reputation as a risk taker with a fascination for guns and other weapons as well as a quick temper will all be grist to the mill as the prosecution uses these qualities to build a case against him. Both the significators of the defence (Mars) and the prosecution (Venus) square each other and are involved with the Nodal axis suggesting that both sides of this case may have serious flaws and it seems that it is a 50-50 chance for either side to win the ascendancy or to prove their point of either guilt or innocence.

1 2

Christian Astrology, pages 54, 403. The trial started at 11:33 am local time as recorded By David Smith of The Guardian in an online report which states proceedings began at 11.30am, prosecutor Gerrie Nel read the charge that Pistorius unlawfully and intentionally did kill his girlfriend, the model Reeva Steenkamp. Sourced at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/03/oscar-pistorius-reeva-steenkamp-murder-trialopens [accessed 6/3/2014]. This gives an Ascendant of 24 Taurus 35. 3 Ibid.

The Oscar Pistorius Trial By Mari Garcia

The judge is signified by the ruler of the 10th house and Aquarius is the 10th sign and on the MC and so Saturn signifies the judge. Saturn is stationary about to go retrograde4 in Scorpio and in the 7th house and sitting on the Descendant. Here we have a malefic which is stationary in a wide sextile to Venus and in a square to Mercury. A stationary planet indicates constancy and duration of effects and so a stationary planets influence will be experienced over a longer period of time and this will be according to its nature i.e., benefic or malefic. The qualities, abilities or events signified by the stationary planet are factors of great permanence and unyielding influence and the good or evil indicated is very enduring. As Saturn is in the 7th house, (the house of the defendant), and in Scorpio (the sign ruled by the defendants significator, Mars), this may suggest that the Judge either favours the defendant or has a very strong vested interest in the defense case. Saturn squares the MC and opposes the Ascendant also suggesting that the Judges determinations will have very direct effects not only on Pistorius but also on the prosecution. South Africa does not have a jury system so a High Court judge will preside over the trial and ultimately deliver judgment, with the assistance of two assessors who are legal experts. Trial by jury has not existed in South Africa since 1969.5 The presiding judge is Judge Thokozile Masipa, a former crime reporter who became only the second black woman appointed to the High Court. She completed her law degree at the age of 43. Previously a social worker, she has expressed strong views about violence against women in her cases, handing maximum sentences to those she convicts.6 In light of the fact that the significator of the Judge, Saturn sits in the 7th house of the defendant does not bode well for Pistorius. Saturns station before it goes retrograde suggests that the judge may take a long time to be convinced or to see the defendant as anything but guilty. The significators of both prosecution (Venus) and defense (Mars) form a partile square (in the same degree) to each other suggesting that both sides will have compelling and destructive arguments which may sway the case either way.

WHO WINS?
The key question in criminal matters, according to Lily, is determining who is in a stronger position.
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The stronger the significator of the party in question, the better their chances of winning the case. In
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Saturn went retrograde on the 3 March 2014, the day of the trial, a few hours after the start of proceedings. Brett Adkins, Daily Mirror, Oscar Pistorius murder trial: Who are the key players that will decide Blade Runner's fate? Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/oscar-pistorius-murder-trial-who-3199539#ixzz2ur40rBpm [accessed 3/3/2014] 6 Lisa Davies, Sydney Morning Herald, Oscar Pistorius 'trial of the century' to start, Sourced at http://www.smh.com.au/world/oscar-pistorius-trial-of-the-century-to-start-20140302-hvfrz.html#ixzz2ur2s3vB0 [accessed 3/3/2014] 7 Christian Astrology, page 369.

rd

The Oscar Pistorius Trial By Mari Garcia

this chart, the ruler of the 7th, Mars struggles with debility and the ruler of the 1st is similarly debilitated by its cadency and position at the bends. So which is less debilitated? Mars, signifying the defendant, is retrograde, in detriment, cadent in the 6th house and with the North Node while Venus is cadent in the 9th house and square the Nodal Axis. I believe the ruler of the 1st is in less trouble but it is also in a tight square to the Mars. There is an additional connection between the lords of the Ascendant (prosecution) and the 7th house (defense) as Venus in Capricorn is in the sign of Marss exaltation while Mars is in Venuss sign of rulership. Some may call this mutual reception but Venus is forced to give Mars what little she has while what she gets from Mars is fairly corrupt. One could say that Mars wins this battle but only marginally as he may get a little bit more good from Venus but only just. I think that the only good that comes of this aspect for either significator, is that both parties understand each others flaws and as they aspect each other (by square) are willing to exploit them to their own advantage. Ibn Ezra8 tells us that in judging the strength of significators especially when it pertains to quarrels (which a court case is) he says to consider: which is the most elevated; and/or which has northern declination; or if they are both of the same declination, and southern, which one has lesser declination; or if both northern, which has the greater declination; and/or if one is direct in motion; and/or if one is aspected by the Sun; and/or if one is in the place of dominion

These will overcome their opponent. He adds that, You should calculate the number of all the [ types of victories] .and one whose number is the highest will triumph.9 If we do so we find that: Venus is more elevated than Mars (Venus is in the 9th as opposed to Mars in the 6th) Venus + 1 point They are both Southern declination with Venus at -16.31 and Mars at -7.56 with Mars having lesser declination. Mars + 1 point Venus is direct while Mars is retrograde, Venus + 1 point

8 9

Ibn Ezra, The Book of Nativities & Revolutions p 55. Ibid. 56.

The Oscar Pistorius Trial By Mari Garcia

Neither is aspected by the Sun Venus is in her triplicity (in Capricorn she is one of the triplicity lords of Earth) Venus + 1 point

By virtue of applying these conditions, Venus has 3 positives while Mars has only 2. Therefore, we can judge that Venus will triumph and the prosecution will win the case and Pistorius will face serious jail time. In the Hellenistic tradition, the placement and condition of the Moon indicates the beginning of the endeavour, and the placement of the lord of the Moon indicates the outcome. The Moon in the Trial chart is in Aries in the 12th house conjunct Uranus suggesting that the beginning of the court case will be full of unexpected surprise, perhaps chaos and disruption or something previously unknown causing disruption. The start of the Trial itself was delayed because a court official broke down and walked away and a replacement had to be found.10 Additionally, other news sources have stated that: There has also been speculation among South African criminal law experts that the opening day could hold a few surprises.11 The Moons dispositor is Mars and again we are back to a debilitated Mars, retrograde, cadent and conjunct the North Node. This is another testimony which points to a difficult and painful outcome of this trial. The involvement of Mars with the Nodal Axis and its tight aspect to Venus, the significator of the prosecution suggests that difficulties may not be limited to the accused. The outcome of the trial will certainly not benefit the defense. Dorotheus of Sidon tells us to: Look at the outcome of this quarrel and at what the result will be from the sign of the fathers
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, which is the cardine under the earth.13

In the Trial chart, the sign on the IC is Leo and its ruler, the Sun in Pisces is located in the 11th house and is in a tight sextile to Pluto and also trine an exalted Jupiter, which is also in opposition to Pluto. Can Jupiter bring its influence to bear on results? If we look at the Jupiter-Pluto opposition first, given that both planets aspect the Sun, ruler of the Leo IC. Jupiter-Pluto is a power statement which can be experienced as ruthless, vindictive or driven to succeed without scruple. What we have here is a testimony that suggests that the outcome of the Trial brings to light these issues of ruthlessness, power and success and perhaps too, the trial
10

According to a news story in The Guardian Sourced at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/03/oscar-pistorius-reevasteenkamp-murder-trial-opens [accessed 6/3/2014]. 11 Brett Adkins, Daily Mirror, Oscar Pistorius murder trial: Who are the key players that will decide Blade Runner's fate? Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/oscar-pistorius-murder-trial-who-3199539#ixzz2urjwFzG8 [accessed 3/3/2014] 12 This refers to the sign on the IC. 13 Dorotheus of Sidon Carmen Astrologicum, Book V, Chapter 33.

The Oscar Pistorius Trial By Mari Garcia

becomes a showcase in which the perpetrator is dealt with ruthlessly. We also know that the outcome of the trial will be public (ruler of the IC in the 11th of public opinion), powerful and will involve a huge interplay between power and money. The Pistorius family has a lot of wealth and influence in the country and they are up against a judge who has made her name in swift justice for perpetrators of violence against women. We have two testimonies here suggesting that the outcome of the trial will be difficult, painful and public.

WAS IT MURDER OR MANSLAUGHTER?

In all news reports, it seems that the question being asked is not so much whether Pistorius is guilty; he has admitted to discharging the firearm and in the process killing his girlfriend. The major question that seems to be at the center of the case is: was it murder (with intent) or was it manslaughter as a result of mistaken identity? The defense will claim that Pistorius fired his handgun in response to what he thought were intruders; the prosecution will be out to prove that Pistorius had intentions of killing his girlfriend and that she was in fear for her safety. Can the chart unveil this story? According to several sources14, murder is attributed to the 12th house, to Mars and possibly a MarsPluto combination. In the chart, the sign on the cusp of the 12th is Aries and so again we are confronted with a corrupted Mars. The 12th also contains a Moon-Uranus conjunction describing the sudden occurrence, the private place in which it happened and the secrecy or unknown nature of the circumstances which preceded the event. Taking another opinion, Deborah Houlding quotes Olivia Barclay saying that if the event queried is a crime, the 8th rules the detective or investigator however, if it is a murder, the 8th house represents the victim.15 In this chart, Sagittarius is on the cusp of the 8th and its ruler, Jupiter is retrograde in Cancer in the 3rd. Additionally, Jupiter is in a square to the Uranus-Moon conjunction and opposition the Pluto. The fact that the lord of the 8th is exalted describes the victim, Reeva Steenkamp; she came from a wealthy and influential family, was successful in her own right but expressed fears for her safety (Jupiter retrograde and cadent lacking power to assert itself). The opposition to Pluto is an added testimony that she felt threatened at best and in fear for her life at worse. The Moon in conjunction with Uranus and squaring the Jupiter, significator of the victim, could describe the sudden, unprovoked and tragic outcome. The three planets, Moon, Uranus and Jupiter are all partile at 10 degrees, suggesting that the volatility of the combination also reflects the violence that was aimed at one person. News reports suggest that the victims wounds were horrific.
14 15

Billings, Rex The Book of Rulerships Deborah Houlding The Houses: Temples of the Sky

The Oscar Pistorius Trial By Mari Garcia

While it is beyond the scope of this article, I also refer the reader to an earlier article I wrote on Pistorius16 and the influence Mars has had on his life. As we have seen, Mars continues its influence at this trial where he is accused of Martian actions (murder).

PISTORIUSS YEAR
A quick look at Pistoriuss predictive work for 2013-14: he is in a 4th house profected year and Taurus is on the cusp of the 4th house in his natal chart. The ruler Venus natally is in Scorpio, conjunct Pluto in the 10th house. Natally, Venus is in detriment and conjunct a difficult planet. In the current Solar Return (Nov 2013-Nov 2014), Venus is in Capricorn also conjunct Pluto in the 6th house of the Return. This is a very loud echo of the natal placement and it brings the intensity, passion and possible destructiveness of the combination to the fore. Additionally, the 7th house is highlighted with the natal Ascendant falling in the Solar Return 7th house and the Solar Return Ascendant falling in the natal 7th house, suggesting that all he is concerned about is this ongoing battle to fight the murder charges.
Ruler of the 4 , PH 10th
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Read the article Pistorius: A Martian Tragedy available at http://astromundi.com/articles.html

The Oscar Pistorius Trial By Mari Garcia

SUMMARY In conclusion, I would say that Pistorius will be found guilty of intentional harm although the testimony of the chart suggests that it will be more about setting a benchmark with regard to the level of violence that has surrounded the case. The sentence may be immaterial at this stage. In light of the testimonies of the chart, I suggest that the judge may deliver an initial judgment but this may be tainted in some way or something occurs procedurally that prolongs the case (Saturn is retrograde). The prosecution may struggle to prove premeditation but there are testimonies in the chart that support the position that the Prosecution will be able to paint Pistorius as a dangerous person whose temper and love of guns have been his undoing. It will probably be this that will be the decisive factor. We shall see! Mari Garcia 7th March 2014
Copyright Mari Garcia 2014. Mari Garcia is a consulting astrologer who has been involved with astrology since 1990. She has lectured widely both in Australia and the USA and has published articles in Australia and overseas and writes for several local and national publications. She runs a consulting practice in Adelaide and is co-principal of ASTRO MUNDI, which offers a four year course in astrology, a Traditional Astrology course as well as special interest workshops and Master Classes. Mari can be contacted on 08 8563 9182 or check out the website at www.astromundi.com. Keep abreast of developments at Astro Mundi on Facebook.