OSCAR PISTORIUS MURDER TRIAL: the blade runner oscar pistorius shoots girlfriend

[HairOfTheDog]

I was disheartened but prepared for her ruling. I had a feeling it was going to end like this. I'm very sorry for everyone that cared about Reeva as I don't feel this is justice in any fashion. It's really nothing more than a gentle slap to Oscar.

I was disheartened too and couldn't reconcile Judge Masipa's ruling with her rationale for it.

If Oscar Pistorius shot with the intent to kill someone (as Masipa said she believed), that equates to "murder", not "culpable homicide". It doesn't make any difference whether he was trying to kill Reeva or trying to kill what he believed was an intruder.

Masipa didn't believe the shooting was an accident and didn't believe that Pistorius had acted reasonably in responding to a perceived intruder, so I don't understand why she ruled culpable homicide (and neither do a lot of legal analysts).

Prosecutor Nel is appealing the verdict and sentencing. He's asked Judge Masipa to send the case up to South Africa's Supreme Court on the basis that she misinterpreted the law/definition. He wants Pistorius behind bars for at least 15 years. I hope Nel succeeds with the appeal.


Pistorius was escorted to his cell almost 2 months ago. He was issued a 5 year sentence, which legal analysts believe may in fact turn out to equate to less than a year behind bars. He's in a single cell at the hospital ward of Pretoria Central Prison.

Story: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oscar-pistor...th-africa/