Oscar Pistorius cleared of murder charges

[Karma]

Judge: Pistorius cant be found guilty of murder

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This case seemed very strange to me, & Pistorius himself came across as a man both incredibly arrogant & paranoid. It's hard NOT to believe he murdered his girlfriend, but b/c of the strangeness of the case & related circumstances, I suppose there is room for reasonable doubt :sure: still, he's not completely off the hook.

While the judge did not announce a verdict, she said the prosecution had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Pistorius committed premeditated murder. She also ruled out a lesser murder charge, but said Pistorius may be vulnerable to being convicted of culpable homicide — in other words a negligent killing.

"I am of the view that the accused acted too hastily and with excessive force," Masipa said of Pistorius actions on the fatal night last year.

He could be charged w/ culpable homicide (the equivalent to manslaughter here in america) & face prison time.

 

[Black King]

I think the best line i hear on this was on twitter (and i can't find it now) but it was something like "South African courts must be great for the wealth cause there is only one person (the judge) to bribe rather than a jury"

 

[Karma]

Update on Trial

Pistorius could get 15 years for culpable homicide


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So he's guilty of culpable homicide, but the judge also says there wasn't enough evidence to support a murder conviction....that he didnt know Reeva was behind the locked toilet door.He has a history of having what some call a "fire arms fetish" & he even discharged a gun in a restaurant ("accidentally" of course).

Maybe I'm over simplifying this, but...WHO ELSE would have been in the bathroom w/ the door locked @ that time of night? Hadn't he known she was in the house EARLIER? :sure:

 

[Lord Ravena]

He thought she was in the bed and that an intruder was in the bathroom.

 

[Karma]

Yes, but thats what ive wondered about. I didnt read anything earlier that indicated they slept in seperate beds. Did they? If not, how could he not notice when he was awakened by the noises, that she was not in the bed beside him

& didnt they live in a gated, high security community? I do remember reading that early on. Not that thats 100% proof against intrusion, but it would make it less likely.

Im one of those ppl who doesnt buy his story & I agree w/ the prosecution that there big holes in it.

 

[Lord Ravena]

There had been break-ins there and South Africa has HUGE issues with property crime...actually crime in general.

Given that and the fear he probably does feel as someone with no legs, I can see reasonable doubt for murder even if the story can be attacked.