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Oscar Pistorius leaves court in Pretoria after being found guilty of negligently killing his girlfriend. Sentencing is next month. Photo: Reuters

Update | Oscar Pistorius, convicted of culpable homicide, may face more than 10 years in jail

Paralympian could be jailed for more than 10 years for Valentine's Day killing of girlfriend; verdict surprises many, and state could appeal

AFP

Oscar Pistorius was yesterday found guilty of culpable homicide for shooting dead his girlfriend and could face a lengthy jail term, in a case that has brought the Paralympian's career to a shuddering halt.

Pistorius, known as Blade Runner for the prosthetic legs that powered him to fame, was acquitted of murder, but South African judge Thokozile Masipa said he had acted "negligently" in killing Reeva Steenkamp.

The judge agreed to release Pistorius on bail pending a sentencing hearing, which will begin on October 13.

His trial heard that in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year, Pistorius fired four hollow point bullets through a locked toilet door, causing Steenkamp's head to "explode" and "amputating" the law graduate's arm.

Dismissing swathes of state evidence as inconclusive or irrelevant, Masipa ruled that on the charge of murder "the accused is found not guilty and is discharged, instead he is found guilty of culpable homicide".

"A reasonable person," Masipa said, would have foreseen "that whoever was behind the door might be killed", adding that Pistorius did not take steps to avoid that.

The defendant stared straight ahead as the conviction was read, showing little emotion. But from the gallery there was a sound of sniffles and shallow breaths as friends and family of 29-year-old Steenkamp cried.

Steenkamp's father, Barry, ran his hand over his head, while her mother June pursed her lips and shook her head.

With no mandatory sentence for culpable homicide, Masipa - known for handing out stiff sentences - will have a great deal of discretion over the punishment, which could range from a fine to more than a decade in jail.

After the verdict, Pistorius' uncle Arnold said the damage done to the athlete as a result of the trial had been tragic. But crime-weary South Africans and legal experts were angry and surprised that Pistorius was found not guilty of murder.

The National Prosecuting Authority said it was disappointed with the verdict, but had not decided whether to appeal.

Outside the court Trevor, a 52-year-old pastor from Pretoria, expressed disgust at the verdict. "If he didn't have money he would be in jail," he said. "Real men don't do that."

If he didn’t have money he would be in jail. Real men don’t do that
TREVOR, A PASTOR, ON THE OUTCOME

Masipa had described Pistorius as a "very poor witness" who was "evasive" when questioned.

The judge, however, found Pistorius guilty on just one of three gun charges that were also levelled against him.

Masipa said Pistorius was guilty of negligently handling a gun in a busy restaurant. While Pistorius was having lunch with friends, he asked to see a friend's gun. While handling it under the table the firearm went off, injuring a boxer, Kevin Lerena.

"He may not have intentionally pulled the trigger," said Masipa. "But that does not absolve him of the crime of negligently handling a firearm."

Masipa cleared Pistorius on charges of illegally possessing ammunition, which the sprinter said belonged to his father.

She also said there was not enough evidence to prove he fired a gun through a car sunroof.

Heng's view
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Pistorius convicted of culpable homicide
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