By Adam Stroud and Casey Taylor
Oscar Pistorius reacts to the guilty verdict of culpable homicide in the death of Reeva Steenkamp. PHOTO REUTERS
Oscar Pistorius was found guilty on Friday of culpable homicide in the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last Valentine’s Day. The paralympian stood silently in the Pretoria, South Africa courtroom as Judge Thokozile Masipa read aloud the verdict.
Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp through his bathroom door in his home in Pretoria. He testified in court that he thought Steenkamp was an intruder. Prosecutors argued that Pistorius intentionally murdered Steenkamp after an argument.
Culpable homicide is similar to manslaughter in Canadian legal terminology. It is defined as an act that results in a death without intent but through negligence or recklessness.
Pistorius had been previously cleared of the more serious charge of premeditated murder. Judge Masipa said the state had not given enough evidence for such a charge.
“The state clearly has not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder,” Masipa said in her verdict. “There are just not enough facts to support such a finding.”
Pistorius part of a larger trend of violence against women?
The Pistorius case could be viewed as one in a long line of violence against women by male athletes. While domestic abuse permeates all aspects of society, there have been many examples of abuse, sexual assault and murder by sports stars. Here are a few notable cases: Pistorius was also found guilty of unlawfully firing a gun in relation to an incident when a pistol he was handling was fired in a Johannesburg restaurant in 2013. He was granted bail until his sentencing on October 13.