Oscar Pistorius Trial: Verdict In Murder Trial Due
South African Judge Thokosile Masipa is due to give her verdict at the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius. The Olympic double-amputee sprin...
http://www.africaeagle.com/2014/09/oscar-pistorius-trial-verdict-in-murder.html
South African Judge Thokosile Masipa is due to give her verdict at the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius.
The Olympic double-amputee sprinter faces 25 years in jail if found guilty of premeditated murder.
He denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year, saying he thought there was an intruder.
The judge could also find him guilty of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, for which he would face a long jail term.
Possible Verdict
Premeditated Murder
Common-law Murder
Culpable Homicide ( Manslaughter)
Discharging a Firearm in Public
Illegal Possession of Ammunition
Mr Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition.
During his closing remarks last month, his lawyer× Roux conceded that the athlete should be found guilty of negligence for discharging a firearm in a restaurant - which carries a maximum penalty of five years.
Analysis: BBC's Andrew Harding in Pretoria
The cameras have been reinstalled in courtroom GD - ready to catch the reaction of× Pistorius as he finally learns his fate.
But the athlete and those following outside will have to wait - quite possibly until Friday - for× Masipa to reach her conclusion. Before then, she will spend hours assessing the credibility of all 37 witnesses - not least Mr Pistorius's own performance.
The prosecution insists it has proved the athlete deliberately shot dead his girlfriend× Steenkamp. He maintains it was a terrible mistake - that he thought she was an intruder.
Two assessors have helped the judge to reach her verdict - and can even overrule her. Many legal experts believe an acquittal is unlikely and that more legal battles lie ahead.
Most of the trial, which began on 3 March 2014, has been televised and attracted worldwide attention.
Before the fatal shooting, the 27-year-old athlete was feted in Africa and known as the "blade runner".
He had won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics.
In 2012, Oscar Pistorius made history by becoming the first double amputee to run in the Olympic Games.
The judgement at his trial is likely to be well over 100 pages. The judge will go through each charge, summing up the prosecution and defence cases and analysing the evidence.
Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Mr Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria, in the early hours of 14 February 2013.
He denies the prosecution's allegation that the couple - who had been dating for three months - had rowed.
The athlete said he thought she was still in the bedroom when he heard a noise in the bathroom, which he believed to be an intruder.
The prosecution have tried to characterise Mr Pistorius as a "hothead", while his defence team have portrayed him as having a heightened response to perceived danger because of his disability and background.
In July, a psychiatric report requested by the judge said Mr Pistorius had post-traumatic stress disorder but no mental illness that could prevent him being held criminally responsible for his actions.
Source: BBC Africa
The Olympic double-amputee sprinter faces 25 years in jail if found guilty of premeditated murder.
He denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year, saying he thought there was an intruder.
The judge could also find him guilty of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, for which he would face a long jail term.
Possible Verdict
Premeditated Murder
Common-law Murder
Culpable Homicide ( Manslaughter)
Discharging a Firearm in Public
Illegal Possession of Ammunition
Mr Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition.
During his closing remarks last month, his lawyer× Roux conceded that the athlete should be found guilty of negligence for discharging a firearm in a restaurant - which carries a maximum penalty of five years.
Analysis: BBC's Andrew Harding in Pretoria
The cameras have been reinstalled in courtroom GD - ready to catch the reaction of× Pistorius as he finally learns his fate.
But the athlete and those following outside will have to wait - quite possibly until Friday - for× Masipa to reach her conclusion. Before then, she will spend hours assessing the credibility of all 37 witnesses - not least Mr Pistorius's own performance.
The prosecution insists it has proved the athlete deliberately shot dead his girlfriend× Steenkamp. He maintains it was a terrible mistake - that he thought she was an intruder.
Two assessors have helped the judge to reach her verdict - and can even overrule her. Many legal experts believe an acquittal is unlikely and that more legal battles lie ahead.
Most of the trial, which began on 3 March 2014, has been televised and attracted worldwide attention.
Before the fatal shooting, the 27-year-old athlete was feted in Africa and known as the "blade runner".
He had won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics.
In 2012, Oscar Pistorius made history by becoming the first double amputee to run in the Olympic Games.
The judgement at his trial is likely to be well over 100 pages. The judge will go through each charge, summing up the prosecution and defence cases and analysing the evidence.
Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Mr Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria, in the early hours of 14 February 2013.
He denies the prosecution's allegation that the couple - who had been dating for three months - had rowed.
The athlete said he thought she was still in the bedroom when he heard a noise in the bathroom, which he believed to be an intruder.
The prosecution have tried to characterise Mr Pistorius as a "hothead", while his defence team have portrayed him as having a heightened response to perceived danger because of his disability and background.
In July, a psychiatric report requested by the judge said Mr Pistorius had post-traumatic stress disorder but no mental illness that could prevent him being held criminally responsible for his actions.
Source: BBC Africa
