OSCAR PISTORIUS GUILTY OF CULPABLE HOMICIDE
Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of the culpable homicide of his girlfriend.
The judge at his trial in Pretoria yesterday found the athlete not guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.
She also found him guilty of firing a gun in a crowded restaurant – but he was cleared of shooting a gun through a car sunroof.
Judge Thokozile Masipa says Pistorius acted negligently when he fired into the toilet door knowing someone was on the other side, as she found him guilty of the equivalent of manslaughter.
“On count one, murder…the accused found not guilty and is discharged” she said.
“Instead, he is found guilty of culpable homicide” she added.
Legal analyst Llewellyn Curlewis says the judge and defence lawyer Barry Roux will now deal with the practicalities of what happens next.
“I do see Barry Roux opting for a non-custodial sentence – and in order to do so, he must start making provision for the alternatives” he said.
“One of which is possibly correctional supervision; I’ve already indicated earlier on that typically he will now seek the court’s permission to apply for a probation officer support and a correctional officer support”.
“That takes about six weeks to finalise” he added.
