No Fear No Favour No persecution of the not so innocent......
Rebecca Davis (Life etc) 12 September 2014 08:52 south Africa
Bar some extremely unexpected circumstance, Oscar Pistorius should today definitively learn his fate from Judge Thokozile Masipa in the North Gauteng High Court. We know that he will not be found guilty of murder; we also know that he will almost certainly be found guilty of culpable homicide. Let's see if the court of popular opinion is any happier when today's court proceedings are done. REBECCA DAVIS will bring you updates from the courtroom.
Rebecca Davis (Life etc) 12 September 2014 08:52 south Africa
Bar some extremely unexpected circumstance, Oscar Pistorius should today definitively learn his fate from Judge Thokozile Masipa in the North Gauteng High Court. We know that he will not be found guilty of murder; we also know that he will almost certainly be found guilty of culpable homicide. Let's see if the court of popular opinion is any happier when today's court proceedings are done. REBECCA DAVIS will bring you updates from the courtroom.
09.00 It's set to be another sweltering day in Pretoria, and this should be the final D-day for Oscar Pistorius in terms of verdict - although not, of course, in terms of sentence. Today Judge Masipa will be dealing not just with the culpable homicide issue, but also that of the three lesser charges the athlete faces: two counts of discharging a firearm in public and one of illegally storing ammunition.
When Pistorius receives the verdict - assuming he is found guilty of culpable homicide - it's expected that his team will immediately apply for his bail to be extended, in order to keep him out of the cells pending sentencing. If Judge Masipa is in a tough mood she could opt to revoke his bail, taking into account the notion that he might be considered to be more of a flight risk now - taking into account not just his conviction but also recent reports that he has sold his South African property.
It should, in short, be an interesting day.
Debate continues to rage on social media and other media about the merits of what Judge Masipa has revealed about her decision-making thus far, with a number of daily newspapers carrying pieces today casting doubt on her interpretation of dolus eventualis. More than one South African daily chose to run as their front-page image today a large picture of Pistorius dripping mucous as Masipa read her judgment yesterday. It's the kind of thing that can put you right off your cornflakes if you're unprepared.
Further afield, meanwhile, the UK Mirror has run a 'tell-all' interview with Pistorius's ex Sam Taylor today, in which she paints her relationship with Pistorius as deeply abusive. It's a much more extreme version to that which Taylor presented in court. Then again, Taylor's mother has a book to punt on her daughter's relationship - which couldn't be released before verdict in case it prejudiced the trial.
More interesting points from pundits: if Pistorius gets slapped with a stiff sentence for culpable homicide and his defence team gets leave to appeal, the risk would be if the Supreme Court overturned Masipa's decision and convicted him of murder. They'll have some tough decisions o make. DM
Photo: Oscar Pistorius arrives to court on Friday, 12 September 2014. (Greg Nicolson)
DAILY MAVERICK
COMMENTS BY SONNY COX
With the sweltering heat reaching 32 degrees plus in Pretoria today we are about to hear the final fate of a
misguided deviant who presents the image of a sorry tormented SOUL!
YES, OSCAR SHOULD GET IMPRISONMENT FOR HIS MISCALCULATED ERRORS IN LIFE.
ON THE OTHER HAND HE NEEDS GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING URGENTLY!
ONLY JUDGE TOKOZILE MASIPA HAS THE PRIVILEGE TO DETERMINE HIS FATE!
Imagine him being made a State President's patient?
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