Oscar Pistorius was found not guilty Thursday of the two most serious charges he faced for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa ruled that Pistorius was not guilty of premeditated murder and also not guilty of a lesser charge of murder.
Oscar Pistorius found not guilty of murder, still faces culpable homicide charge
A South African judge ruled on the two most severe charges against South African 2012 Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius on Thursday, but will decide on a lesser charge Friday.
Judge Masipa stated that Pistorius’ assertion that he thought he was defending against home invaders was credible and that prosecution failed to prove otherwise. However, Pistorius still faces a charge of culpable homicide, which in South Africa is the negligent killing of another person.
In a surprising twist, Judge Masipa called an adjournment and stated that the trial would need to resume on Friday. But before doing so, the judge expressly stated that Pistorius acted too hastily and was negligent in his decisions on the night of the murder:
Masipa: "I am of the view that the accused acted too hastily and was negligent." Court adjourned until tomorrow. #Pistorius
— David Smith (@SmithInAfrica) September 11, 2014 Pistorius killed Steenkamp in February of 2013 by firing a gun at a closed bathroom door. Pistorius claims he believed home invaders were hiding in the bathroom and that the potential intruders were his intended targets.
The trial is being held in South Africa, which does not use jury trials. This leaves Judge Masipa and the guidance of two aides as the lone authority in determining a verdict. While Pistorius has been acquitted of the two harshest charges, culpable homicide is a dynamic charge that could result in no jail time or a prison sentence exceeding 15 years.
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