The judge in OSCAR PISTORIUS' murder trial on Wednesday "ruled out both premeditated murder and murder verdicts in the shooting death of the double-amputee Olympic athlete's girlfriend," REEVA STEENKAMP, according to the AP.
Judge THOKOZILE MASIPA said that "prosecutors had not proved beyond reasonable doubt that Pistorius, 27, was guilty of premeditated murder." However, she "left open the possibility of a verdict of culpable homicide," saying it would be a "competent" verdict. Culpable homicide "refers to a negligent killing." Pistorius "could still be sent to jail for years if it is found that he acted negligently." Masipa said there were "just not enough facts" to support the finding of premeditated murder. As she spoke, Pistorius "wept quietly, his shoulders shaking as he sat on a wooden bench" (AP, 9/11). Masipa "appears to be leaning towards the lesser charge of manslaughter, known in South Africa as culpable homicide."
Minutes after the lunch break, she "seemed to be on the verge of announcing her verdict, only to stop abruptly and adjourn until Friday" -- leading to sighs and gasps in the overflow court. South Africa's legal system "has also been on trial and many believe the athlete is getting off lightly, possibly because of his fame."
But legal experts argue that "the judge has merely followed the law and the evidence before her" (BBC, 9/11). The FINANCIAL TIMES' Andrew England reported
Masipa described Pistorius as a “very poor witness.” She acknowledged that giving evidence was a “harrowing experience” as he relived the shooting, but she said he was an "evasive witness" who failed to listen properly to questions put to him, "giving the impression he was more worried about the impact his answers might cause" (FT, 9/11).
