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Blade Runner murder trial verdict - Live Stream
- Thread starter Leongsam
- Start date
Reporters: Helier Cheung and Lucy Fleming
Skip To Latest Live Text
Skip To Latest Live Text
- 11:15:
Earlier, Judge Masipa had emphasised the issue of onus: "No onus rests on the accused to convince this court of the truth of the explanation he gives. If he gives an explanation, even if it is improbable, the court is not entitled to convict unless it is satisfied that not only is it improbable, but that it is beyond reasonable doubt false."
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Pumza Fihlani, Pretoria High Court BBC News
tweets: Judge Masipa is running through the verdict quite quickly. Tension is overwhelming. It feels like it could be over soon. #OscarPistorius
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: Sombre faces from #OscarPistorius family on bench. The prosecution case may be crumbling. But athlete's own testimony clearly damaging...
- 11:12:
Oscar Pistorius cried in court as Judge Masipa continued to read her verdict.
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Pumza Fihlani, Pretoria High Court BBC News
tweets: Judge Masipa says in respect to count one, premeditated murder, evidence is purely circumstantial. Finds state has not proved intent here
- 11:10:
The court is now taking a five minute break.
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: Hearts racing in court here. Well mine at least. Judge rushing towards verdicts, surely..
- 11:09:
"The state clearly has not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder. There are just not enough facts to support such a finding," says Judge Masipa.
- 11:08:
Timeline and chronology of events tip the scales in favour of the accused's version in general, saysJudge Masipa.
- 11:07:
In the charge of premeditated murder, the evidence is purely circumstantial, the judge says.
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: Onus on state to prove reasonable doubt, says Judge. #OscarPistorius
- 11:06:
The accused was clearly not candid with the court when he said he did not want to shoot anyone, as he had a loaded firearm and was ready to shoot, the judge says.
- 11:05:
The deceased was killed under "very peculiar" circumstances, the judge says. It makes no sense that Ms Steenkamp did not hear Mr Pistorius scream "get out". The other question is why the accused fired not one, but four shots before he ran back to the room to try and find Ms Steenkamp, the judge says.
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: Judge asks why #OscarPistorius didn't check RSteenkamp's whereabouts. Says his version on this "makes no sense."
- Nomsa Maseko, BBC News, Pretoria
tweets: #OscarJudgement During evidence in chief the accused seemed composed and logical.But during cross examination he lost his composure -Masipa
- 11:03:
However, "the conclusion that because a witness is untruthful, he is probably guilty, must be guided against, because a false statement does not always justify the most extreme conclusion", Judge Masipa says.
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: #OscarPistorius initially composed, but lost composure under cross-examination, says Judge, rejecting defence explanation he was stressed.
- 11:01:
The defence argued that the accused was suffering from enormous stress, and was under medication when he gave evidence, the judge says.
"This argument does not make sense," Judge Masipa says. "The accused's performance during examination in chief could not be faulted. It was only under cross examination that he contradicted himself and visible felt uncomfortable."
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: As Judge begins citing other cases to support her arguments, a sense we may be moving towards verdict?
- 10:59:
"The accused was a very poor witness," the judge says.
- Kate Forbes, BBC News
tweets: Key moment: Judge has dismissed the idea that #OscarPistorius shot either by accident or before he knew what he was happening
- 10:58:
Judge Thokozile Masipa speaking in court.
- Geoffrey York, Africa correspondent for Canada's The Globe and Mail
tweets: it's not "reasonable" to think that everyone automatically arms themselves when threatened, Judge says
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Pumza Fihlani, Pretoria High Court BBC News
tweets: Remember the defense said #Pistorius had an "exaggerated startle response". But she does not buy this as a reason for pulling the trigger.
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: Judge cites "strange conduct" of #OscarPistorius in approaching danger, and mentions defence's "fight or flight" explanation.
- 10:54:
Mr Pistorius had approached the bathroom with a gun, the judge says.
- 10:54:
However, the state has argued that if Mr Pistorius had no intention to shoot anyone, he cannot use self-defence as a defence, the judge adds.
- 10:53:
The essence of the accused's defence is that he had no intention to shoot anyone, but if he is found to have such an intention, it was because he believed he was under threat from an intruder, the judge says.
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: Judge says #OscarPistorius evidence was "contradictory, in my view."
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Pumza Fihlani, Pretoria High Court BBC News
tweets: Masipa rejects that #Pistorius had no control over his actions when he fired at the door. No lack of criminal capacity, knew right and wrong
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: Judge says #OscarPistorius had no lapse of memory at critical moments. She says "he took conscious decision" to get gun and head to bathroom
- 10:50:
"This court is satisfied that at the relevant time, the accused could distinguish between right and wrong, and that he could act in accordance with that distinction. It is also clear that the defence of non-pathological insanity has no foundation," says Judge Masipa.
- 10:50:
Oscar Pistorius' doctor said Mr Pistorius shot as part of a "startle" response. However, the judge says: "I disagree with this submission. There is a huge difference, as submitted by state counsel, between a reflex action and an involuntary action."
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Pumza Fihlani, Pretoria High Court BBC News
tweets: It seems #Pistorius was his own worst enemy in this case. The judge laboring point of more than one defense. But will she find him credible?
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: Accused did not suffer from mental disorder, says Judge, quoting from report. So he knew right from wrong when he fired. #OscarPistorius
- 10:46:
However, a psychiatrists' report requested by the judge found the following, Judge Masipa recounts: "At the time of the alleged offences, the accused did not suffer from a mental disorder or a mental defect that affected his mental ability to distinguish between rightful or wrongful nature of his deed. A mental disorder or mental defect did not affect his ability to act."
- 10:43:
The defence argued that Mr Pistorius "may have lacked criminal capacity or may have diminished his criminal capacity at the time of the accident", the judge says.
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: We are dealing with a plethora of defences, says Judge Masipa - a ticking off for #OscarPistorius team.
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: Masipa resumes mid-sentence, regarding defence case of gunshots being fired.
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Pumza Fihlani, Pretoria High Court BBC News
tweets: Fascinating opinions in the overflow court. Public riveted. Many believe defense have quashed premeditated murder charge. #OscarPistorius
- 10:40:
The verdict has resumed. Judge Masipa now speaking.
- 10:40:
Oscar Pistorius' stop-start trial has lasted more than six months and included many moments of drama. The BBC has profiled the key legal players in the trial.
- Mandy Wiener, Senior Reporter at South Africa's Eyewitness New
tweets: #OscarTrial Sentiment amongst state team is that they're still holding out for Murder conviction on 'dolus eventualis', killing intruder.
- 10:38:
Earlier today, Oscar Pistorius cries in the court as he listens to Judge Masipa speaking.
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: Gerrie Nel returns to court. No blushes despite having had much of his case rejected this morning. He knows he could yet get murder verdict.
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Andrew Harding Africa correspondent
tweets: My sense, for what it's worth - as i've speculated before, the verdict will hinge on what OP was thinking when he fired those shots.
- Barry Bateman, senior reporter at South Africa's Eyewitness News
tweets: #OscarTrial people are filing back in to the court. Oscar is in the dock chatting to Arnold. BB
Perversion of justice. It's OJ Simpson all over again.
whys this guy called blade runner?did he act in the movie?
Women dig these bad boys. I'm sure another woman will hook up with him once the dust has settled on this case.
Women dig these bad boys. I'm sure another woman will hook up with him once the dust has settled on this case.
Has this got to do with Natural selection as in nature...where the females chooses the strong male to ensure a healthy brood & strong offsprings...this has nothing to do with brains...base on brains, you get a selection of freaks...
This book explains everything. Read it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Queen:_Sex_and_the_Evolution_of_Human_Nature
Shitnigger stil clueless about sex and genes.....goes to show has been jerking in his muther's basement all these years......
Pistorius not guilty of murder, judge rules; culpable homicide finding possible
Athlete could still face prison if convicted of culpable homicide over death of his girlfriend
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 11 September, 2014, 5:16pm
UPDATED : Friday, 12 September, 2014, 3:26am
Associated Press in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius stands in the dock in Pretoria's High Court. Photo: AP
The judge in Oscar Pistorius' murder trial yesterday ruled out both premeditated murder and murder verdicts in the shooting death of the double-amputee Olympic athlete's girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Judge Thokozile Masipa said prosecutors had not proved beyond reasonable doubt that Pistorius, 27, was guilty of premeditated murder. However, she left open the possibility of a verdict of culpable homicide, saying it would be a "competent" verdict.
<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ULYq2M0FU7I?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" height="315" width="560" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Masipa did not deliver any formal verdict in the death of Steenkamp, 29, before adjourning the hearing until today.
Culpable homicide refers to a negligent killing. Pistorius could still be sent to jail for years if it is found that he acted negligently. He has admitted firing the four shots that killed Steenkamp, a model, on Valentine's Day last year.
Pistorius says he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder and killed her accidentally. The prosecution alleges he intentionally killed her after a loud argument, which was heard by neighbours.
Judge Thokozile Masipa described Pistorius as a very poor witness. Photo: EPA
Masipa said there were "just not enough facts" to support the finding of premeditated murder. As she spoke, Pistorius wept quietly, his shoulders shaking as he sat on a wooden bench.
Masipa proceeded to explain her assessment of the testimonies of all of the 37 witnesses.
She described Pistorius as a "very poor witness" who had lost his composure on the stand and was at times "evasive", but she emphasised that did not mean he was guilty of murder.
Earlier, the 66-year-old judge cast doubt on witness accounts of hearing a woman's screams, a key part of the prosecution's case.
Masipa said "none of the witnesses had ever heard the accused cry or scream, let alone when he was anxious", apparently acknowledging the possibility of the defence's argument that Pistorius had been the person screaming in a high-pitched voice after discovering he had fatally shot Steenkamp.
Masipa also said she was disregarding text messages between the two. Prosecutors had submitted text messages that showed tension between them while the defence submitted messages that indicated mutual affection. That evidence, the judge said, proved nothing.
"Normal relationships are dynamic and unpredictable most of the time, while human beings are fickle," she said.
Pistorius weeps in the dock after he was cleared of all murder charges. Photo: AP
Pistorius could be acquitted if Masipa believes he made a tragic error when he shot Steenkamp through a toilet door in his home in the pre-dawn hours of February 14, 2013 and acted reasonably.
A key part of the prosecution's case was its assertion that Steenkamp screamed during a late-night alleged fight with Pistorius before he killed her. But Masipa said some of those witnesses who testified to hearing a woman scream were "genuinely mistaken in what they heard, as the chronology will show".
Masipa also cited testimony of an acoustics expert called by the defence, saying it cast "serious doubt" on whether witnesses who were hundreds of metres away in their homes could have differentiated between the screams of a man or a woman.
If Pistorius is convicted on any charge, sentencing is likely to be postponed until a later hearing.
How many years?
Maximum 15 years, don't think he will serve all 15 :o:o:o
You mean verdict not out yet?
You're wrong.....he will serve 20 to 25 years........with the 3 firearm charges.........
15 years and to be gelded !:o
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