At the 1994 annual awards dinner given for Forensic Science (AAFS), President Dr Don Harper Mills astounded his audience with the legal complications of a bizarre death. HERE’S THE STORY: On March 23, 1994, the medical examiner viewed the body of Ronald Opus, and concluded that he died from a shotgun wound to the head. Mr Opus had jumped from the top of a ten-story building intending to commit suicide. He left a note to that effect indicating his despondency. As he fell past the ninth floor, his life was interrupted by a shotgun blast passing through a window, which killed him instantly. Neither the shooter nor the deceased was aware that a safety net had been installed just below the eighth floor level to protect some building workers, and that Ronald Opus would not have been able to complete his suicide the way he had planned. The room on the ninth floor, where the shotgun blast emanated, was occupied by an elderly man and his wife. They were arguing vigorously and he was threatening her with a shotgun! The man was so upset that when he pulled the trigger, he completely missed his wife, and the pellets went through the window, striking Mr Opus. When one intends to kill subject ‘A’ but kills subject ‘B’ in the attempt, one is guilty of the murder of subject ‘B.’ When confronted with the murder charge, the old man and his wife were both adamant, and both said that they thought the shotgun was not loaded. The old man said it was a longstanding habit to threaten his wife with the unloaded shotgun.
He had no intention to murder her. Therefore the killing of Mr Opus appeared to be an accident; that is, assuming the gun had been accidentally loaded. The continuing investigation turned up a witness who saw the old couple’s son loading the shotgun about six weeks prior to the fatal accident. It transpired that the old lady had cut off her son’s financial support and the son, knowing the propensity of his father to use the shotgun threateningly, loaded the gun with the expectation that his father would shoot his mother. Since the loader of the gun was aware of this, he was guilty of the murder even though he didn’t actually pull the trigger. The case now becomes one of murder on the part of the son for the death of Ronald Opus. NOW … THE EXQUISITE TWIST: Further investigation revealed that the son was in fact, Ronald Opus. He had become increasingly despondent over the failure of his attempt to engineer his mother’s murder. This led him to jump off the ten-story building on March 23rd, only to be killed by a shotgun blast passing through the ninth story window. The son, Ronald Opus, had actually murdered himself. So the medical examiner closed the case as a suicide. A true story from Associated Press.
Who am I? It seems that lately my life has been getting more complicated, and I want to thank those of you who are brave enough to still associate with me regardless of what I have become. The following is a recap of my current identity: · I was born white, which makes me a racist. · I am a fiscal and moral conservative, which makes me a fascist. · I am heterosexual, which makes me a homophobe. · I am non-union, which makes me a traitor to the working class and an ally of big business. · I am a Christian, which makes me an infidel. · I am older than 60, which makes me a useless old man. · I think and I reason; therefore I doubt much of what the main stream media tells me, which makes me a reactionary. · I am proud of my heritage and our inclusive culture, which makes me a xenophobe. · I value my safety and that of my family; therefore I appreciate the police and the legal system, which makes me a right-wing extremist. · I believe in hard work, fair play, and fair compensation according to each individual’s merits, which makes me anti-social. · I believe in the defence and protection of the homeland by all citizens, which makes me a militarist. Please help me come to terms with this, because I‘m not sure who I am anymore!
Minutes 24 November 2016 Compiled by Barry Cleveland Attendance Visitors
14 members and 3 guests Colin Jacobs (Goodwood RC), Phil Pickett, Abe Oliver (Guest Speaker)
President’s Welcome to all present, and especially to Bev, who has been in the USA for some Announcements three months with son, daughter and family. Reminders: 1. NB Nominations for WRC President and Hon. Sec. for 2018-19. 2. Year end braai at Karen’s home, Fishhoek on 10 Dec. NB invite ex Rotarians too. 3. Uncle Paul’s Christmas Party duties. Speak to Biffy. Slots Colin: Showed samples of PE/cotton golf shirts, cotton T shirts and acrylic caps which can be embroidered with Rotary Wynberg logos. Orders taken by Justin. Barry: Festive Concert at Groot Constantia on Wed. 7 Dec. (see Dates to Diarise) Biffy: UP parking duty roster needs more volunteers to fill gaps. Help also needed to wrap presents. Guest Speaker Abraham (Abe) Oliver is the Program Manager: Centre for Entrepreneurship at the False Bay College, Westlake. He is also completing his Masters degree in Entrepreneurship at UWC. Taking over from the old ‘Technikons’ there are now 52 technical colleges in South Africa lecturing scholars in practical skills which will be useful in industry. The courses typically comprise 18 months of theory and 18 months of practical application. Technical skills are further supplemented with business management. Abe’s particular interest is in the creation of jobs through self employment. His vision is “to be the most innovative youth entrepreneur accelerator in the Western Cape”; and “to inculcate, inspire and support young minds to embrace venture creation”. There are 11 million jobs to be created – 90% of them by small business development. “Education is not the filling of the bucket, but the lighting of the fire” – W B Yeats Abe was introduced by Biffy and thanked by Mike. Swindle
With the jackpot at R1495 the tension was electric as Biffy drew Dennis’ name………. but alas, he only managed the 4◊ (shame). Don won the R15 attendance prize. There are now only 23 cards left!!
President’s song Nobody got ‘Doo Be Doo’ by Freshly Ground. Listen to it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLuSyqMlm_U
Going Forward Dates To Diarise 27 Nov. to 24 Dec.
Uncle Paul’s Christmas Party. Don’t forget to volunteer for duties.
1 December
DG Ian’s official visit to the club. Remember to wear WRC regalia!
7 December
Festive Concert on the lawns at Groot Constantia: Ex Proms tenor, Given Nkosi , the Brass Quintet and the Symphony Choir of Cape Town. Bring rugs and picnic baskets (Wine and snacks also on sale) from 17.00. Concert starts at 19.00. Tickets R150 (adults); R60 (children 4-12) from Computicket.
8 December
Last Business Meeting of the year.
10 December
End of year / Christmas Party at Karen’s house, formal invitation to be sent. Friends of Rotary and past Rotarians welcome.
15 December
Carols by Candlelight at Kirstenbosch. Book online: Webtickets.
Rotary named world’s outstanding foundation in 2016 The Rotary Foundation has been named the 2016 Outstanding Foundation by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). From its first contribution of $26.50 almost a century ago, The Rotary Foundation’s assets have grown to approximately $1 billion, and more than $3 billion have been spent on projects that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, and grow local economies. The Rotary Foundation will receive its award at AFP’s 2017 International Fundraising Conference in San Francisco, April 30 – May 2, 2017.
Duty Roster December 1
Wynpress Editorial
Cleveland Overbosch
8 Business mtg. Hovstad Schonegevel
Wynpress Minutes
Maunder
van Niekerk
Door Duty
Todd
van Eeden
Grace
Maunder
Munday
Loyal Toast
Barnard
Bird
International Toast
M Schreiber
Smith
Speaker Intro
Jackson
N/A
Speaker Thanks Entertainment for the month
N/A
Sergeant
…and finally
15
22
NO MEETING
NO MEETING