Oscar Pistorius Not Guilty of Murder, Negligent

[iacas]

http://www.latimes.com/world/africa/la-fg-oscar-pistorius-murder-trial-verdict-20140910-story.html#page=1

Quote:

But the judge said she did not find sufficient evidence to prove the prosecution’s contention that Pistorius intended to kill Reeva Steenkamp after the couple had an argument, though she did conclude that the athlete was negligent in firing his weapon four times through the door of the bathroom in his residence, in which Steenkamp had locked herself.

Quote:

Pistorius admitted to firing four expanding bullets into the toilet cubicle off his bathroom. But he had insisted that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder, fired unintentionally and not meaning to kill anyone.

How do you unintentionally fire four bullets into a "toilet cubicle" not trying to kill someone?

W?

T?

F?

[billchao]

I'm completely stupefied. What a joke.

[dchoye]

Im not surprised anymore after the OJ trial.

Justice might be served later.

Oscar should go to Vegas and sell some olympic memorbilia

[isukgolf]

I am beginning to think that capital punishment, means those with capital are not punished ...

[newtogolf]

Glad to see other countries justice systems are just as broken as ours are.

[mvmac]

How do you unintentionally fire four bullets into a "toilet cubicle" not trying to kill someone?

And how do you jump to the assumption that there's an intruder in the bathroom when the door is closed?

[iacas]

And how do you jump to the assumption that there's an intruder in the bathroom when the door is closed?

Just because an intruder really has to go doesn't mean he stops being polite, so he shuts the door! Makes sense to me!

[Golfingdad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvmac

And how do you jump to the assumption that there's an intruder in the bathroom when the door is closed?

And your girlfriend is not in the bed next to you.  This part also confuses me:

Quote:

Pistorius admitted to firing four expanding bullets into the cubicle off his bathroom. But he had insisted that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder, fired unintentionally and not meaning to kill anyone.

So he fired because he thought it was an intruder and not his girlfriend.  But then he said he fired accidentally.  That reminds me of the lawyer in a murder trial where I was on the jury arguing (almost) simultaneously that his client didn't do it AND was acting in self defense.  (Seriously)

---

Without knowing a lick about the South African judicial system ... it looks like perhaps this isn't over.  It sounds like she just determined that he wasn't guilty of premeditated murder, and there is still a chance that she can find him guilty of "culpable homicide" which I imagine is similar to our "Second degree murder???"

[Shorty]

How do you unintentionally fire four bullets into a "toilet cubicle" not trying to kill someone?

The judge didn't say that.

He is most likely going to be found guilty of culpable homicide.

She believes that " a reasonable person" would know that what he did was likely to kill whoever was behind the door.

The state didn't prove that he intended to kill Steenkamp.

He'll get a couple of years based on the firearms charges and the culpable homicide.

The best we can hope for is that Pistorius becomes a pariah like OJ Simpson without any source of income and no sponsors, who is heckled wherever he goes.

The charge of premeditated murder was never ever going to fly.

I'm just wondering why she was fully clothed.

[flopster]

The judge didn't say that.

He is most likely going to be found guilty of culpable homicide.

She believes that " a reasonable person" would know that what he did was likely to kill whoever was behind the door.

The state didn't prove that he intended to kill Steenkamp.

He'll get a couple of years based on the firearms charges and the culpable homicide.

The best we can hope for is that Pistorius becomes a pariah like OJ Simpson without any source of income and no sponsors, who is heckled wherever he goes.

The charge of premeditated murder was never ever going to fly.

I'm just wondering why she was fully clothed.

Sorry but I'm not paying close attention to this but were they not arguing before this happened? I would just assume she wanted to get away from him and locking herself in the bathroom was the only option she could think of?

[Shorty]

Sorry but I'm not paying close attention to this but were they not arguing before this happened? I would just assume she wanted to get away from him and locking herself in the bathroom was the only option she could think of?

That is what the state said, and most people (who weren't there ) think that.

In summary, it went like this:

He claims he thought she was asleep.

People heard a woman screaming and  bangs.

In court, the defence said that Pistorious sounds like a woman when he screams.

His story: He broke the door down with a bat and was screaming when he realised what he had done.

The judge dismissed the testimony of the witnesses because they had nothing to compare the screams to, essentially.

[billchao]

That is what the state said, and most people (who weren't there ;-) ) think that. In summary, it went like this: He claims he thought she was asleep. People heard a woman screaming and  bangs. In court, the defence said that Pistorious sounds like a woman when he screams. His story: He broke the door down with a bat and was screaming when he realised what he had done. The judge dismissed the testimony of the witnesses because they had nothing to compare the screams to, essentially. :-\

It sounds to me like some awful prosecuting went on in that courtroom.

[Shorty]

It sounds to me like some awful prosecuting went on in that courtroom.

On the contrary, it was legendary prosecution. Some of the best you will ever see.The prosecutor, Gerrie Nel was amazing. He was relentless.

Problem was, it was always going to come down to not being able to prove intent.

[nevets88]

Anyone know what's the range of sentencing for culpable homicide in SA? It does like he's going to serve some time in jail, right? Re: polite intruder. A kid snatched a purse and ran by me leaving the subway stairs. He was very polite, said excuse me and gave me room. :-)

[Ernest Jones]

Anyone know what's the range of sentencing for culpable homicide in SA? It does like he's going to serve some time in jail, right?

From what I understand based on the stuff I heard on the radio, it can range from a few years of jail time to simple probation. Life is off the table.

[billchao]

On the contrary, it was legendary prosecution. Some of the best you will ever see.The prosecutor, Gerrie Nel was amazing. He was relentless. Problem was, it was always going to come down to not being able to prove intent.

I see. Thanks for the clarification.

[iacas]

From what I understand based on the stuff I heard on the radio, it can range from a few years of jail time to simple probation. Life is off the table.

A few years? Hmmmm. :P

[nevets88]

From what I understand based on the stuff I heard on the radio, it can range from a few years of jail time to simple probation. Life is off the table.

I have to agree with the opinion below. [quote name="iacas" url="/t/77116/oscar-pistorius-not-guilty-of-murder-negligent#post_1053934"] A few years? Hmmmm. :P [/quote]