After what may have been the longest six months of Oscar Pistorious’ life, the alleged, cross-examined and tested athlete was found “not guilty” of the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. However, he still as the hurdle of culpable homicide to scale
The 27-year-old, who was charged for murder, discharge of fire-arm in public place and possession of ammunition, was declared by the judge, Thokozile Masipa, not guilty of the first charge, which was murder.
In a ruling on Thursday, Masipa said the facts were not enough to prove premeditated murder as charged by the state.
On February 14, 2013, Pistorious fired four shots at the door of the bathroom, claiming there was an intruder who constituted a threat to his life and property. The shots killed his 29-year-old model-girlfriend.
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Pistorious, who broke down in tears in the course of the ruling, is to know his fate on Friday, with the judge leading the trial to culpable homicide.
If Pistorious is found guilty of culpable homicide, he would be facing a five-year jail term or more, depending on the outcome of the charges on fire-arm, as against 25 years for murder.
In 2012, Pistorious became the first amputee to compete in track event of the Olympics when he ran in two events in the 2012 Summer Games in London.
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