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Oscar Pistorius trial live: Athlete 'not guilty of murder' of Reeva Steenkamp Oscar Pistorius trial live: Athlete 'not guilty of murder' of Reeva Steenkamp
(about 1 hour later)
Welcome to The Independent’s live blog on the trial of Oscar Pistorius. Today, the South African athlete returns to court to await the verdict over the death of Reeva Steenkamp as Judge Thokozile Masipa begins to deliver her judgement. Welcome to The Independent’s live blog on the trial of Oscar Pistorius. Today, the South African athlete has returned to court to discover the verdict over the death of Reeva Steenkamp.
The 27-year-old double-amputee Paralympian shot and fatally wounded his girlfriend, 29-year-old Ms Steenkamp, through a locked toilet door in his home in Pretoria in the early hours of Valentine’s Day, 2013. Judge Thokozile Masipa has already said the 27-year-old double-amputee Paralympian cannot be found guilty of murder.
Now, Judge Thokozile Masipa will give her ruling on the incident as a six-month trial watched closely world-wide draws to a conclusion. The athlete shot and fatally wounded his girlfriend, 29-year-old Ms Steenkamp, through a locked toilet door in his home in Pretoria in the early hours of Valentine’s Day, 2013.
However, he could still be convicted of culpable homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Please allow a moment for the live blog to loadPlease allow a moment for the live blog to load
Pistorius and his legal team say he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder and accidentally fired shots, fatally wounding her. The prosecution allege Pistorius grabbed his gun and intentionally shot his girlfriend through the toilet door following a heated argument. The Blade Runner also faces three other unrelated charges – two for firing a gun in a public space, and one for illegally possessing ammunition.
Even if athlete is acquitted of deliberately murdering Ms Steenkamp, he could still spend years in prison. The Blade Runner also faces three other unrelated charges – two for firing a gun in a public space, and one for illegally possessing ammunition.
Judge Masipa will scrutinise evidence given by 37 witnesses during the case. The verdict on whether Pistorius intentionally killed Ms Steenkamp is expected to take hours, but could run in to days.Judge Masipa will scrutinise evidence given by 37 witnesses during the case. The verdict on whether Pistorius intentionally killed Ms Steenkamp is expected to take hours, but could run in to days.
If there is a conviction, a second trial will begin with the prosecutors and defence will have the chance to present further witnesses – from family members to psychiatrists – before Judge Masipa decides if and how long Pistorius goes to prison.