Pistorius absolved of murder charges

‘Blade Runner’ can still be found guilty of culpable homicide for fatal shooting.

PRETORIA:

‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius was found not guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Thursday, a shock decision that left the South African celebrity athlete sobbing with emotion in the dock.

The high-profile trial was adjourned until Friday when the 27-year-old Paralympian will hear whether he has been found guilty of culpable homicide, a lesser charge roughly equivalent to manslaughter.

"The state clearly has not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder," Judge Thokozile Masipa told the High Court in Pretoria.

"Viewed in its totality the evidence failed to establish that the accused had the requisite intention to kill the deceased let alone with premeditation.”

The double amputee could still face anything from a suspended sentence to a lengthy prison stretch if found guilty of culpable homicide. Or he could be acquitted altogether.

Masipa's introductory comments on the lesser count appeared to lean towards a guilty ruling.

"I am of the view that the accused acted too hastily and used excessive force. In the circumstances, it is clear that his conduct was negligent," she said before adjourning the trial.

When he heard the judge clear him of murder, the Paralympian sprinter sat in the dock bowed and burying his head in his hands.

The victim's parents, Barry and June Steenkamp, left the courtroom with stony faces.

Legal experts voiced shock after he was found not guilty of murder, and predicted the case would not rest with the verdict.

Both defence and prosecution agree that Pistorius killed Steenkamp when he fired four shots through a locked toilet door in his Pretoria home.

But the sprinter says he thought he was shooting at an intruder while Steenkamp was safely in bed.

On the other hand, the prosecution says he killed her in a fit of rage after an argument.  

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.