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As covered here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/oscar-pistorius/10668819/Watch-live-Oscar-Pistorius-murder-trial-verdict.html

edit to add: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/09/13/world/africa/oscar-pistorius-verdict-guilty-of-culpable-homicide.html?referrer=


So, thoughts?


Later,
ff

Editted to add additional link.

My view is that he shot her in a fit of rage, so it was not premeditated however I believe the judge feels the evidence is not reliable enough to prove that, and instead the verdict will probably be the equivalent of manslaughter.

It is difficult to see how shooting someone dead would not be manslaughter unless justified by circumstances such as self-defence.

You would win that bet:

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/09/13/world/africa/oscar-pistorius-verdict-guilty-of-culpable-homicide.html?referrer=

Will add to the op.

Culpable Homicide seem to me like the right verdict. A verdict of premditated murder was always unlikley.

So when is he likley to be sentenced?

 LuciusAR wrote:


So when is he likley to be sentenced?

Sentencing to start 13th October 2014.

 LuciusAR wrote:
Culpable Homicide seem to me like the right verdict. A verdict of premditated murder was always unlikley.

I think the shot was always made in the heat of the moment and not premeditated. Personally, I don't buy the burglar story. I think he's a hot head who has violent tantrums. She locked herself in the bathroom and he tried to shoot his way in or fired in frustration. It wasn't actually his intention to kill though if he had any sense he would know it was highly likely.

 Evil_Toast wrote:

 LuciusAR wrote:


So when is he likley to be sentenced?

Sentencing to start 13th October 2014.

Wow, a month between conviction and sentencing. That sucks. Gotta imagine anticipation of a 15 year sentence is much worse than actually knowing the sentence for sure. Not as bad as a life sentence but still, the waiting would suck.

What do you guys think he will get? 10-15 years? Probation? Mental Health treatment?

Latet,
ff

He will get what the judge thinks he deserves. Sadly this could mean Mental Health Treatment so he goes free to shoot at some other poor young lady. Or it could mean 15 years in a South African jail as a fallen celebrity…

At the end of the day, he shot to kill whoever was in the toilet at the time. And waking up and not finding your Girlfriend next to you in bed, well it don't really take a massive leap of imagination to figure out that it could well be the woman that you love cowering in the corner, rather than an uber skilled cat burglar.

As the Judge said during her summation, "You did not act in a manner befitting a normal person".

Premeditated murder is a stretch, and i can understand that the judge only had circumstantial evidence to work with. Beyond reasonable doubt, and all.

that said, manslaughter is too light imo. Even if she had been in the bed, and it was a bugler stealing his toilet seat or something, it is murder to shoot and kill when there is no immediate threat to you like that. You cannot shoot if you don't know where and who the target is.

So the defence was essentially arguing that he thought he was murdering a burglar. Gee, thanks defence....

Blackhoof wrote:
Premeditated murder is a stretch, and i can understand that the judge only had circumstantial evidence to work with. Beyond reasonable doubt, and all.

that said, manslaughter is too light imo. Even if she had been in the bed, and it was a bugler stealing his toilet seat or something, it is murder to shoot and kill when there is no immediate threat to you like that. You cannot shoot if you don't know where and who the target is.

So the defence was essentially arguing that he thought he was murdering a burglar. Gee, thanks defence....

If I had a gun and a burgler was in my house, I would definitely shoot. The lives and safety of my wife and children are more important to me than gambling on the chance that someone who breaks into my house does not intend harm.

An interesting read can be found here http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/oscar-pistorius-trial-what-pistorius-claims-what-the-prosecution-claims--and-how-the-two-different-versions-dont-add-up-9724393.html

From what I've heard about life in SA from my friend, I'd also shoot any burglars in my home if I lived there.
Handguns are cheap and rife. Violence and shootings are widespread.
For instance not many weeks ago my friend spotted someone leaving little chalk marks outside the homes in her street.
Basically recon for burglars..
I can take care of myself. But I'd be worried living in SA..
Just saying..

I do not know......Jack Don't bypass the language filter like this. Reds8n on how the legal system work in South Africa. Being Jack left town and the steamy pile not saying anything. I cannot judge the guy. IMPHO, should never have fired unless confirmation of target intent was made clear

And this is exactly what's confusing the gak out of us*. Especially considering that a local hippity hop artist was banged up for 25 years recently for taking more drugs than Keith Richards, hoping into his Mini Cooper, and killing 4 kids whilst drag racing down Soweto's main road. Naturally the racist idiots on both sides are falling over each other to loudly proclaim their views as far and wide as possible, to the point where the judge in question now has extra security assigned to her after some nasty death threats were made.

*- My lawyer friend has assured me there is a strong case for an appeal to be lodged by the State, so in time this may be resolved with less question marks and general stupidity being spouted on the news and social media.

Relapse wrote:

Blackhoof wrote:
Premeditated murder is a stretch, and i can understand that the judge only had circumstantial evidence to work with. Beyond reasonable doubt, and all.

that said, manslaughter is too light imo. Even if she had been in the bed, and it was a bugler stealing his toilet seat or something, it is murder to shoot and kill when there is no immediate threat to you like that. You cannot shoot if you don't know where and who the target is.

So the defence was essentially arguing that he thought he was murdering a burglar. Gee, thanks defence....

If I had a gun and a burgler was in my house, I would definitely shoot. The lives and safety of my wife and children are more important to me than gambling on the chance that someone who breaks into my house does not intend harm.

Sounds fair enough - except apparently he had the opposite view - anyone who wasn't him in the house was a legitimate target including his girlfriend?

I assume you would check to make sure it wasn't your wife, children or girlfriend before you fired?

I've had burglars at home. Caught them both times.
The first one got a good solid whack right between his eyes with a Tonfa(read knightstick for you yanks). Then got thrown down the staircase.
The second one woke me up.
He got chased off down the street by myself naked wielding a Wakisashi shouting at him to stop so I could gut him. I snapped his fingers in the windowsill first though. Then he ran off before I could actually get to him.. :(

Anyone entering my home unwanted is regarded as an open target.

The fecks who burglarized my storage shed wouldn't open the door when I came to have a chat with them. Fethin cowards..

Besides it's not like the cops are able to do anything at all. Utterly useless fecks.. Never any help when you need them.
And this is in my country.
A fairly safe one..

He got chased off down the street by myself naked wielding a Wakisashi shouting at him to stop so I could gut him. I snapped his fingers in the windowsill first though. Then he ran off before I could actually get to him.. :(

Ancient Budha say, 'if naked man running down the street, you run too. Nothing good is following."

Ancient Bubba say "If you a buck running naked down the street, her daddy aint far behind."

Tjomball wrote:
He got chased off down the street by myself naked wielding a Wakisashi shouting at him to stop so I could gut him. I snapped his fingers in the windowsill first though. Then he ran off before I could actually get to him.. :(

This visual pleases me. I hope it happened exactly like this, because the story is glorious. If I were your neighbor, and witnessed that sort of chase, I'd be both reassured and terrified that I shared a street with you.