Oscar Pistorius: The story that lead to Judgement Day

The Complimentary Breakfast has been closely following the Oscar Pistorius trial from the morning the news broke, up to today, his Judgement Day.

 

Listen as some of the professionals share their opinions on the case as we touched on several topics along the way. 

 

Judge Thokozile Masipa will begin handing down judgment in the murder trial of Paralympian Oscar Pistorius today. Here are the possible sentencing options:

 

Guilty of premeditated murder 

If Judge Masipa finds that Pistorius shot and killed Reeva with intent, he could face life imprisonment sentence, with a minimum term of 25 years before the convict is eligible for parole.

 

Guilty of murder 

This sentence can go one of two ways

1) Dolus directus, that it was Pistorius's aim and objective was to unlawfully kill Reeva Steenkamp 

2) Dolus eventualis, that by shooting at the toilet door, he foresaw the possibility that he might not be legally entitled to shoot the intruder he believed was inside, or that he foresaw the possibility that Steenkamp could be harmed but accepted the risk and did so anyway.

 

Guilty of culpable homicide (manslaughter)

Should Judge Masipa may find it a reasonable possibility that Pistorius did not intend to kill Steenkamp and thought he was being threatened in the form of an intruder in his house, she could sentence him to a maximum of 15 years in prison. However, he can also receive suspended and non-custodial sentences.

 

Acquitted

Should Pistorius be aquitted, this would mean that Judge Masipa believes that he is innocent and indeed did shoot with the belief that he was defending himself.

Other charges

Two charges of discharging firearms in public (both charges, which he denies, carry a maximum five-year prison sentence), as well as denying the illegal possession of ammunition, which carries a maximum 15 year prison term.. However, police found .38 bullets in a safe in his bedroom, which he said belonged to his father.