{"id":46502,"date":"2014-09-11T09:02:54","date_gmt":"2014-09-11T09:02:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=46502"},"modified":"2014-09-11T14:04:45","modified_gmt":"2014-09-11T14:04:45","slug":"oscar-pistorius-cleared-of-all-murder-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/09\/oscar-pistorius-cleared-of-all-murder-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"Oscar Pistorius cleared of all murder charges"},"content":{"rendered":"
The judge in the Oscar Pistorius trial has ruled out a verdict of murder in the ongoing trial.<\/p>\n
“It follows that the accused’s erroneous belief that his life was in danger excludes dolus. The accused therefore cannot be found guilty of murder, dolus eventualis. That however is not the end of the matter, as culpable homicide is a competent verdict,” said Judge Masipa.<\/p>\n
The judge earlier ruled out a verdict of premeditated murder saying that the prosecution failed to prove he killed his girlfriend deliberately after an argument.<\/p>\n
The South African Olympic sprinter denies murdering Ms Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year, saying he thought there was an intruder.<\/p>\n
Pistorious will now not receive a life sentence but could still be found guilty of \u00a0culpable homicide (manslaughter), which has a maximum of 15 years.<\/p>\n
Judge Thokozile Masipa said “the state clearly has not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of \u00a0premeditated murder. There are just not enough facts to support such a finding,”<\/p>\n
But she \u00a0also rejected the defence’s argument that the athlete lacked criminal capacity.<\/p>\n
The judge said she was satisfied the accused “could distinguish between right and wrong”.<\/p>\n
She said he was an evasive witness but this did not mean he was guilty.<\/p>\n
Mr Pistorius has said that he did not intend to kill anyone, but the judge said the height of the bullets suggested otherwise.<\/p>\n
Earlier she questioned the reliability of several witnesses in court, while delivering her verdict on the athlete.<\/p>\n
Correspondents say this could cast doubt on a key prosecution argument.<\/p>\n
Mr Pistorius, 27, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition.<\/span><\/p>\n