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Pistorius Charged with Culpable Homicide; Steenkamp’s Parents Unhappy

Sep 13, 2014 03:28 AM EDT | By Staff Reporter

The Oscar Pistorius trial, which have been treading on for the past half year, has finally been given a verdict. Judge Thokozile Masipa read the verdict last Friday: Oscar Pistorius was charged with Culpable Homicide.

Steenkamp's parents remained silent as the verdict was announced. The trial of the century was finally over as the judge announced her decision in front of the courtroom and the world through television.

Pistorius is a double amputee South African sprint runner. He became a Paralympics champion and last 2011 at the World Championships in Athletics, he became the first amputee to win a medal on able-bodied track. On 2012, he became the first double leg amputee to enter the Summer Olympics and on the 2012 Summer Paralympics, he finished with gold medals both the men's 400-meter race and 4x100 meters relay.

Oscar Pistorius, a 27-year-old Paralympian, shot his girlfriend of three months, 29 South African model Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's day morning last year. According to Pistorius, he mistook her for an intruder and shot her.

Under South African Law, culpable homicide has no minimum sentence and a maximum sentence of 15 years. In other words, Pistorius can face 15 years of jail time or be set free. Masipa said in her own words that the prosecution "failed to show requisite intention to kill the deceased, let alone premeditation." Masipa added that "the accused acted negligently when he fired shots into the toilet door knowing that there was someone behind the door and there was very little room to maneuver. A reasonable person therefore in the position of the accused with similar disability would have foreseen that possibility that whoever was behind the door, might be killed by the shots and would have taken steps to avoid the consequences. The accused in this matter failed to take those consequences."

It took more than a month for the judge to reach her decision as this was a much televised trial.

Arnold Pistorius, Oscar's uncle, commented outside the courtroom that they as a family is still deeply affected by this tragedy and added that their hearts still go out to the Steenkamp family.

The courtroom was adjourned and postpones until October 13 when Pistorius' defense will be presenting their argument for his sentence to be lowered while the prosecution will be aiming for jail time.

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Society, Crime
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