Global InformationTrial of Oscar Pistorius information
| The State vs Oscar Pistorius | |
|---|---|
| Court | Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa in Pretoria |
| Decided | 12 September 2014 |
| Transcript | Judgment Appeal Judgment |
| Case history | |
| Subsequent action | Pistorius sentenced to 5 years in prison for culpable homicide (later resentenced to 6 then 15 years for murder) |
| Related actions | Multichoice (Proprietary) Limited and others v National Prosecuting Authority and another [2014] ZAGPPHC 37, Gauteng Division, Pretoria (South Africa) (broadcasting of proceedings) |
| Court membership | |
| Judge sitting | Thokozile Masipa |
The trial of Oscar Pistorius for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp and several gun-related charges (The State vs Oscar Pistorius)[1][2] in the High Court of South Africa in Pretoria opened on 3 March 2014. Pistorius was a leading South African runner who won attention as an athlete with a disability competing at a high level, including at multiple Paralympic Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics. Steenkamp, a model, had been Pistorius's girlfriend for three months. In the early morning of Thursday, 14 February 2013, Steenkamp was shot and killed by Pistorius at his Pretoria home.[3][4][5] Pistorius acknowledged that he shot Steenkamp, but he said that he mistook her for an intruder.[6] Pistorius was taken into police custody and was formally charged with murder in a Pretoria court on 15 February 2013.[7][8][9] The entire trial was broadcast live via audio, and parts of the trial were also broadcast live via television.[10][11][12]
On 11–12 September 2014, judge Thokozile Masipa delivered a verdict that Pistorius was not guilty of murder but guilty of the culpable homicide of Steenkamp and reckless endangerment with a firearm at a restaurant.[13][14] On 21 October 2014, he was sentenced to a maximum of five years for culpable homicide with a concurrent three-year suspended prison sentence for reckless endangerment.[15][16]
Pistorius was released on parole on 19 October 2015 after serving one sixth of his sentence.[17] The state appealed the conviction, and in December 2015 the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the conviction for culpable homicide, finding him guilty of murder instead. On 6 July 2016, Masipa sentenced Pistorius to six years in prison for murder. The state appealed again, this time for a longer sentence. The Supreme Court of Appeal then imposed a sentence of 15 years – with the time he had already served reducing the time to an additional 13 years and five months.[18]
- ^ "In the Final Roll in the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division of the High Court, Pretoria) this 3rd day of March 2014" (PDF). SAFLII. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ "INFOGRAPHIC: The State vs Oscar Pistorius". News24. 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ^ "In full: Pistorius' affidavit to court". CNN. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ "'Blade Runner' Pistorius charged with murdering girlfriend". Reuters. London. 14 February 2013.
- ^ Bennett, Lucy (14 February 2013). "Paralympian Oscar Pistorius charged with murder". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ^ "Pistorius pleads not guilty on day one of murder trial". Business Day. South Africa. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ^ Dolan, David (15 February 2013). "Blade Runner Pistorius sobs in court after murder charge". Reuters. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ^ Harding, Andrew (15 February 2013). "Oscar Pistorius weeps as court hears murder charge". BBC. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ^ Tolsi, Niren (15 February 2013). "Pistorius 'intentionally shot and killed Steenkamp'". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ^ du Plessis, Charl (25 February 2014). "Oscar trial to be broadcast live, court rules". City Press. South Africa. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ "Oscar Pistorius trial can be broadcast live on TV, court rules". The Guardian. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ ""The sub judice rule and the Oscar Pistorius case: Will the crime of contempt of court ex facie curiae become abrogated by disise?" De Rebus, July 2014:27 [2014] DEREBUS 138".
- ^ Germaner, Shain (12 September 2014). "Oscar: the verdict is in". The Star. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
On Thursday, Judge Thokosile Masipa indicated that Pistorius would not be found guilty of murder with direct intent or common murder (dolus eventualis). She ruled on Friday morning that the court's unanimous decision was that Pistorius was negligent for firing on Steenkamp. Thus, he was found guilty of culpable homicide.
- ^ "NPA reacts to Pistorius judgment". South African Government News Agency. 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
In her ruling on Friday, Judge Thokozile Masipa instead found the Paralympian guilty of culpable homicide. She also found Pistorius guilty of reckless endangerment of people and property after a gunshot went off in a restaurant.
- ^ Germaner, Shain (21 October 2014). "Oscar gets 5 years for Reeva's death". The Star. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "Oscar Pistorius sentenced to 5 years in jail". News24. 21 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "Oscar Pistorius has been released". News24. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ Cowell, Alan (24 November 2017). "Oscar Pistorius's murder sentence increased to 15 years". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 November 2017.