Oscar Pistorius was sensationally cleared today of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The Paralympian broke down in tears as the judge delivered her verdicts in trial that has captivated a global audience.
Pistorius had been accused of shooting the 30-year-old model during a furious row at his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year. But he had always maintained - through sobs, wails and breakdowns during his six-week trial - that he shot the law graduate in self-defence after mistaking her for an intruder.
Thokozile Masipa has yet to decide on a lesser charge of culpable homicide - similar to manslaughter. Earlier, the judge ruled there were not enough facts to prove the most serious charge of pre-meditated murder against the athlete.
Although she described the 27-year-old as a 'very poor; and 'evasive' witness, judge Thokozile Masipa said this did not mean the track star was necessary guilty in a case that she said was based entirely on circumstantial evidence.
'The state has not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder,' Masipa told the Pretoria High Court.
'There are just not enough facts to support such a finding.'
The judgement is still being read out.
No comments:
Post a Comment