Oscar Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide in the murder of his former girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in a Pretoria, South Africa court on Friday.
One day after Judge Thokozile Masipa acquitted Pistorius, a Paralympic runner who competed in the London 2012 Olympics, of premeditated murder and murder in Steenkamp’s death she revealed the conviction on the lesser charge of culpable homicide. With the conviction, Pistorius faces up to 15 years behind bars. However, it’s possible that his sentence will include no jail time.
"The accused is found not guilty and discharged," Masipa said of the murder charges, adding, "Instead he is found guilty of culpable homicide."
On Thursday, Masipa acquitted Pistorius of premeditated murder and murder based on her belief of the athlete’s account of events. Masipa did not feel as though the prosecution – led by Gerrie Nel – provided suffiencient evidence to prove that Pistorius planned to shoot and kill Steenkamp or that he intentionally shot to kill whomever he believed was behind the bathroom door at his Pretoria home.
Furthermore, Masipa believed that Pistorius, a double-amputee, had a genuine fear that an intruder was in the house. Had he not had this disability, she conjectured he might have handled the situation differently. With that being said, she found the accused negligent and extreme in the behavior that led to Steenkamp’s tragic death.
As for the two gun charges and one ammunitions charge, Masipa only convicted Pistorius of recklessly discharging a firearm in a public place. She acquitted him of recklessly firing a weapon out of a car due to conflicting witness testimony.
Despite the prosecution’s efforts to have Pistorius' bail revoked due to his conviction for culpable homicide, Masipa opted to extend his bail, not believing him to be a danger to the public or a flight risk.
Pistorius is due back in court Oct. 13 for a sentencing hearing.
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