Pistorius cleared of premeditated murder

Pretoria, South Africa (SportsNetwork.com) – South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius was cleared of premeditated murder in the killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Judge Thokozile Masipa began her summation of the evidence on Thursday and revealed the prosecution “has clearly not proven beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder.”

Pistorius can still be found guilty of a lesser charge of culpable homicide.

It was believed Judge Masipa would issue a final ruling Thursday, but instead will continue reading her verdict on Friday.

Steenkamp was killed by Pistorius on Feb. 14, 2013 in the bathroom of his home.

Pistorius maintained the shooting was an accident, believing he was firing into the bathroom at an intruder. The prosecution countered that the double- amputee runner knew Steenkamp was in the bathroom and fired four shots after the two had argued during the evening.

South Africa does not have trial by jury.

Pistorius, who also faces charges of contravening South Africa’s Firearms Control Act, faced 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the premeditated murder charge.

The lengthy trial began March 3 and was broadcast throughout South Africa and other parts of the world. It was delayed for about two weeks in late April and early May, then again for nearly the entire month of June after the prosecution requested testing for Pistorius after the defense team contended he suffered from an anxiety disorder that likely caused his reaction to fire a gun instead of run away from a potential intruder on the day of the shooting.

Testimony ended in July and final arguments were delivered in early August before the judge took the next month to decide a verdict.

Steenkamp, who was 29 years old, was a model and reality television star in South Africa.

Pistorius, known as the “Blade Runner,” made history at the London Olympics in 2012 when he became the first double-amputee runner to compete in the Games. He had both legs amputated before he was a year old after being born without fibula bones and runs on prosthetic blades.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had initially said that his prosthetics were considered technical aids and in violation of an IAAF rule. But the Court of Arbitration for Sport later overturned that decision, making him eligible to compete against able-bodied runners.

Pistorius qualified for South Africa’s Olympic team in 2012 and competed in the 400-meter race, reaching the semifinals, and the 1,600-meter relay.

Categorized in: Olympics