Some South Africans are elated at the latest murder conviction of Oscar Pistorius, following the ruling of a South African Court of Appeal, overturning an earlier manslaughter verdict.
The Olympic athlete has now been found guilty of the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Judge Eric Leach ruled on Thursday that the Paralympic champion should have foreseen that his firing of a gun would have killed whoever was behind the door, regardless of whether he thought it was Steenkamp or an intruder.
[contextly_sidebar id=”tbAV8x61bkynepM2EatDuuyAUqCdJ1k4″]A journalist at South Africa’s Botshabelo Metro News, Pitso Mosetihe, who spoke to Citi News said most South Africans now believe that justice has been served.
“The mood of the general public, especially for the women and the organizations that represent women and children, feel that the judgment that has that been handed today [Thursday] was long overdue.”
Mr. Mosetihe said some sections of the public felt that “the first judgment was not justified” and that Oscar was initially supposed to have been convicted for murder.
He noted that new ruling has been welcomed by the women groups who feel that the dignity of women has been restored.
He also says the women say they now feel much safer and and protected by the justice system of South Africa.
Oscar Pistorius is currently under house arrest after spending one year of his original five-year sentence in jail.
He would have to return to court to be re-sentenced for murder.
The minimum sentence for murder in South Africa is 15 years but a judge can display discretion in sentencing.
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By Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana