The Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius Sentenced to 5 Years for the Death of Reeva Steenkamp

THAT’S IT?

Olympic and Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, the Blade runner was sentenced to 5 years in prison for the death, culpable homicide, of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. But he could be out a lot sooner than that. One has to wonder whether some one not of the blade runner’s popularity. Judge Thokozile Masipa said that her sentence to Pistorious was both fair and just to both to society and the accused. I am not too sure about that. Oscar Pistorius was originally charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day 2013. Pistorius may have got a slap on the wrist, however, I am pretty sure his name and brand have been permanently tainted.

Judge Thokozile Masipa said a long-sentence would show a lack of mercy toward Pistorius, known as the “Blade Runner” for racing on prosthetic legs. She suspended a separate three-year sentence for an unrelated firearms charge.

Barry Roux, Pistorius’ lawyer, said his client could be released after 10 months to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

Reuters:

Olympic and Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius started his five-year jail sentence on Tuesday for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, marking the end of a trial that has gripped South Africa and millions around the world.

His uncle, Arnold Pistorius, indicated he would not appeal.

As judge Thokozile Masipa gave her decision on the 27-year-old’s culpable homicide conviction, Pistorius, whose downfall has been likened to that of American football star O.J. Simpson, stood resolutely in the dock.

His only reaction was to wipe his eyes before two police officers led him to the holding cells beneath the High Court in the heart of the South African capital.

Reeva Steenkamp’s mother says, “we’re satisfied with Pistorius sentence.” Sorry, but I don’t believe it. She seems more relieved its over.

Judge Thokozile Masipa Rules Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius Not Guilty of Premeditated Murder in the Death of Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp … Still Faces “Culpable Homicide”(Update: Pistorius Found Guilty of Culpable Homicide)

Oscar Pistorius Found Not Guilty of Murder in Death of  Reeva Steenkamp … Say hello to South Africa’s O.J. Simpson.

This morning Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled the Blade Runner, Oscar Pistorius, was not guilty of premeditated murder in the shooting death of his girl friend Reeva Steenkamp. The shooting took place on Valentine’s Day 2013.  The judge ruled that the prosecution’s evidence to support a charge of premeditated murder was “purely circumstantial.” and “the state clearly has not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder.”  The judge went on to say that “there are not enough facts.” However, Pistorius is hardly out of trouble as he only has been found “not guilty” of the most serious murder charge. He still faces the lesser charges of “culpable homicide” in the shooting death of his girlfriend.

The judge presiding over the trial of Oscar Pistorius, the Paralympic athlete, cleared him of the two most serious murder charges against him on Thursday, almost certainly sparing him a long prison sentence. But then, after appearing to be on the verge of declaring Mr. Pistorius guilty of a lesser crime, culpable homicide, in the shooting death of his girlfriend, the judge abruptly suspended court proceedings for the rest of the day.

“We’ll have to stop here and resume tomorrow morning,” the judge, Thokozile Matilda Masipa, said less than half an hour after the session had resumed after a lunch break. She did not explain the adjournment.

Judge Masipa then turned to the lesser charge of culpable homicide, which is comparable to involuntary manslaughter, and said Mr. Pistorius had failed three tests to be exonerated of the charge. One considers what a “reasonable” person would have done under the same circumstances.

Reuters – Africa: Pistorius cleared of murder, culpable homicide verdict to come.

“I am of the view that the accused acted too hastily and used excessive force. It is clear that his conduct was negligent,” she told the packed courtroom before adjourning until Friday. She also said he had not acted “reasonably”.

Earlier, Masipa ruled that prosecutors, led by the combative Gerrie Nel, had failed to prove the 27-year-old intended to kill Steenkamp after an argument.

The defence said Pistorius shot Steenkamp as a result of a tragic accident after mistaking her for an intruder hiding behind a locked toilet door.

As Masipa delivered her not-guilty decision on the primary charge of premeditated murder, Pistorius, who would have faced at least 25 years behind bars if convicted, sat sobbing in the dock, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Culpable homicide – the South African equivalent of Britain’s manslaughter – carries up to 15 years in prison but has no minimum sentence.

Although Masipa described Pistorius as a “very poor” and “evasive” witness, she said it did not mean he was necessarily guilty in a case heavily reliant on circumstantial evidence

ABC News:  Judge Masipa called Pistorius a “very poor witness” during the murder trial and found he was at times vague and avoided answering some of the prosecution’s questions. Despite that, she says this does not necessarily indicate his guilt. From the wording of the judge’s decision in the not guilty verdict of murder and premeditated murder,m it seems almost a certainty that she will find him guilty of culpable homicide.

 A verdict on the charge of culpable homicide, similar to manslaughter in the United States, still remains. Pistorius also faces two counts of discharging a gun in a public area, as well as illegal possession of ammunition.

If he is found guilty of murder without premeditation, or culpable homicide, he could receive a 15-year sentence as a first time offender. Mitigating factors, such as his emotional state, anxiety levels and disability could result in a lesser sentence.

The Guardian: LIVE updated coverage of the trial of Oscar Pistorius.

UPDATE I: Oscar Pistorius found guilty of culpable homicide

Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide on Friday, escaping the more serious charge of murder for the killing of his girlfriend, and will now battle to avoid going to prison.

The 27-year-old double amputee, who became one of the biggest names in world athletics, stood impassively in the dock, his hands folded in front of him, as Judge Thokozila Masipa delivered her verdict.

Pistorius was also convicted of firing a pistol under the table of a packed Johannesburg restaurant but cleared of two other firearms charges – illegal possession of ammunition and firing a pistol out of the sun-roof of a car.

The Murder Trial of South African Amputee Track Star Oscar Pistorius (The Blade Runner) Accused of Killing Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Begins Today … Neighbor Testifies, ‘Bloodcurdling Screams’ the Night of the Killing (LIVE FEED)

The long awaited murder trail of Oscar Pistorius begins today in South Africa …

This morning, South African amputee track star Oscar Pistorius, otherwise known as the “Blade Runner” pleaded not guilty in court to the murder of his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Oscar Pistorius has been charged with the Valentine’s Day 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

WATCH LIVE FEED OF TRIAL HERE.

Follow the murder trial HERE at the UK Telegraph.

CNN: Pistorius neighbor testimony - ‘Bloodcurdling screams’ the night of the killing.

Talk of “bloodcurdling screams” and shots in the night took center stage Monday in the first day of testimony in the murder trial of South African amputee track star Oscar Pistorius, who killed his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, last year.

“Something terrible was happening at that house,” Michelle Burger testified.

“Her shouts, her screams were petrifying,” she said later.

Burger was the only witness Monday in a trial that is expected to last a few weeks. Testimony was scheduled to resume Tuesday morning.

Under questioning by prosecutors, Burger told the court that she heard a woman’s screams and a man yelling for help.

“Just after 3, I woke up from a woman’s terrible screams,” she said. “Then I also heard a man screaming for help. Three times he yelled for help.”

UPDATE I: LIVE FEED OF TRIAL BELOW:

Sky News Publishes Leaked Images of the Bloody Bathroom Where Oscar Pistorius Shot his Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

(Warning, pics in link very graphic)

Sky News releases images of the bloody bathroom inside the home of paralympian Oscar Pistorius, The Blade Runner, where he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The photos are believed to have been taken with a cellphone by a crime scene officer. Warning, the images are gruesome blood splatter in the bathroom where Pistorius claims he believed he was shooting an intruder on the other side of a closed door. Pistorius shot several times through the bathroom door. He claims it was out of self defense and thought an intruder was in his bathroom. That so-called intruder turned out to be his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, who was staying with him that night. South African Olympian Oscar Pistorius will be in court next week battling charges that he murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Sky News has obtained pictures inside the house of paralympian Oscar Pistorius – including images of the bloody bathroom where he shot his lover, Reeva Steenkamp.

The pictures have emerged as allegations that police officers involved in the investigation are being questioned following the disappearance of one of the runner’s watches from his house.

This is the first time the public has seen the actual room where the athlete’s model girlfriend was killed.

The images show a panel missing from the toilet door – and two police markers below the handle which indicate bullet holes – low down.

How does one shoot bullets into a closed bathroom door, concerned that there was an intruder in the house, and not having first checked where is girlfriend was?

Carl Pistorius, the Brother of Oscar Pistorius Also Facing Homicide Charges in Death of a Female Motorcyclist in 2008 Traffic Accident

South African murder charges, keeping it all in the Pistorius family … Carl Pistorius is facing Homicide charges as well?

As if the bizarre nature of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial could not get any more bizarre? First we are presented with the premeditated murder charges against one of South Africa’s most beloved and recognizable individuals. Oscar “the Blade Runner” Pistorius has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius is claiming that it was an accident and thought he was firing at an intruder who was entering his home. Of course it seems rather unbelievable that one would know that their girlfriend was in their home, hears a noise, then fires four gun shots into a locked bathroom door without first asking who’s there or first making sure your girlfriend who is supposed to be in the bed is safe. Oh well, that’s for a judge to decide after listening to the evidence. The trial then got more bizarre when it was learned that the lead investigator in the murder case is also facing murder charges of his own.

Now we learn that Oscar Pistorius’ brother Carl is facing homicide charges of his own. Carl Pistorius is facing homicide charges in the death of a female motorcyclist stemming from a 2008 traffic accident. The motorcyclist died in a hospital a couple of days after the accident.  Culpable homicide refers to “unlawful negligent killing.” in South Africa. Prosecutors claim that  Carl Pistorius was driving recklessly in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, when he crashed with the motorcyclist in the daytime. Carl Pistorius’ defense attorney is disputing the charges and claims that the female motorist rode into his client. Carl Pistorius is supposed to be in court in March 2013.

Carl Pistorius is charged with culpable homicide over the death of a woman motorcyclist in a traffic accident in 2008, his lawyer said.

The case has no relation to the charges against Oscar Pistorius over the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp.

The Paralympic star – who was released on bail on Friday – denies murder.

The charge against Carl Pistorius over an accident involving his car in which a woman on a motorcycle died has only just emerged.

It was confirmed to the BBC by Pistorius family lawyer Kenny Oldwage, who said Carl appeared in court the day before his brother’s judgement in the bail hearing last week.

He is due to appear again in March.