Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius appears in court on Thursday to face judgement over the killing of his model girlfriend, ending a six-month trial that turned the amputee’s private life into a global spectacle.
The 27-year old celebrity athlete faces life behind bars — and notoriety that would eclipse his athletic achievements — if found guilty of deliberately killing lover Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013.
Judge Thokozile Masipa’s ruling on charges of murder and three firearms offences will likely be laid out in two days of careful legal argument and then a final verdict, perhaps on Friday. The high-drama, half-year trial fed intense media interest worldwide, with live broadcasts veering into the realm of TV reality shows.
Nearly 40 witnesses testified, including Pistorius, who broke down, weeping and at times vomiting as he heard how the 29-year old blonde’s head “exploded” like a watermelon under the impact of his hollow-point bullet. Judge Masipa will begin proceedings by evaluating the evidence of each of the witnesses and she is assisted only by two assessors.
She may decide that Pistorius is innocent, or that the state has not done enough to prove its case, resulting in an acquittal. But if she decides Pistorius deliberately murdered Steenkamp, he could face a life sentence, which in South Africa means 25 years in jail.
No comments:
Post a Comment