Oscar Pistorius, the South African sprinter known globally as “Blade Runner”, has been convicted of culpable homicide by a judge. On Thursday, the same judge had found Pistorius not guilty of murder; culpable homicide is a lesser charge with a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Sentencing should occur within weeks, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Oscar Pistorius convicted of culpable homicide, could face up to 15 years
A judge has convicted the South African track star of culpable homicide 19 months after the shooting death of Pistorius’ girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The South African charge of culpable homicide is similar to the American charge of manslaughter.
Reeva Steenkamp, the sprinter’s girlfriend, was shot and killed in Pistorius’ home on Valentine’s Day 2013. Pistorius admitted to shooting four bullets through a door at what he claims he believed to be an intruder. Prosecutors fought that claim and instead argued that Pistorius murdered Steenkamp after a quarrel between the two. The judge in the case, Thokozile Masipa, went with the defense, finding that Pistorius did not intend to kill Steenkamp when he fired the shots into his bathroom.
The Times reports that Pistorius showed no emotion as the verdict was read, despite crying and even vomiting during the course of the trial.
Pistorius, 27, ran for South Africa in the 2012 Olympics despite being a double amputee with two prosthetic legs. His story became a centerpiece of the London Games, and he starred in a number of ads for Nike and others. All sponsors dropped him after Steenkamp was killed in February 2013.
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