Judge Thokozile Masipa rules Oscar Pistorius is guilty of culpable homicide, or negligent killing, in shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
A South African judge found Oscar Pistorius guilty today of culpable homicide in the 2013 shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He was also found guilty of discharging a gun in a public area, but acquitted of other charges, including murder.
Culpable homicide is similar to manslaughter in the United States. He could receive a 15-year sentence as a first time offender. Mitigating factors, such as his emotional state, anxiety levels and disability could result in a lesser sentence.
Pistorius was found guilty of discharging a gun in a public area for a 2013 restaurant incident, Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled. He was acquitted in a 2012 incident in which Pistorius allegedly fired a gun out of the open sunroof of a friend’s car. He was also acquitted of illegal possession of ammunition.
One day earlier, Masipa ruled that the athlete did not intentionally kill girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Steenkamp was killed on Valentine’s Day 2013 when Pistorius fired four shots through a bathroom door in the middle of the night, saying her mistook his live-in girlfriend for an intruder. Pistorius testified that the shooting was a horrible accident.
The trial has spanned five months, prolonged by several interruptions including a month-long break so the paralympian sprinter could be examined by mental health experts. Pistorius – known as “Blade Runner” for his prosthetic legs – served as an international inspiration after performing in the London 2012 Olympics.
This is a developing story. More to come…
