Judge faces backlash over Pistorius verdict

[Jazzy]

Several legal groups in South Africa have expressed concern about threats and harsh criticism of the judge who found Oscar Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide, but not guilty of the more serious charge of murder.

Some South Africans said they were surprised and even shocked when Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled last week that the Paralympic champion was negligent but did not intend to kill when he fatally shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a closed toilet door. Pistorius said he thought a dangerous intruder was in his house; prosecutors alleged he intentionally killed Steenkamp after an argument.

Police protection for Masipa has been stepped up since the verdict Friday in the sensational case, South African media reported. The case will return to the global spotlight when Pistorius, who is free on bail, appears before the judge for a sentencing hearing on Oct. 13.

The sentence for a culpable homicide conviction is at the judge's discretion and can range from a suspended sentence and a fine to as much as 15 years in prison. Legal experts have cited five years as a guideline.

Meanwhile, South African sports officials have said Pistorius can compete for South Africa again, as long as his running doesn't go against the ruling of the judge.

Many legal analysts agreed with the judge's ruling that Pistorius could not be found guilty of premeditated murder. But some believe the law supported a conviction on a lesser murder charge on the grounds that Pistorius knew someone - in his version, a perceived intruder- was behind the toilet door and also knew that firing four bullets into the door could cause that person's death.

James Grant, an associate professor of law at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, said in an online analysis that "there appear to be errors of law" in Masipa's judgment.

Source

Do you think he's guilty of culpable homicide, but not guilty of the more serious charge of murder? Why/why not?

 

[Dee]

They were unable to prove, without a doubt, that he killed his girlfriend in cold blood, which is what they were trying to do in the first place. But that doesn't mean he isn't guilty of killing her. I agree with the decision the judge made. Oscar Pistorius acted with excessive force and a person lost their life because of it. He is guilty of culpable homicide, and the judge made the right decision in passing down that judgement. But of course she's going to get shit flung at her. This was a high profile, highly emotional case on both sides.