"Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius was found not guilty of the murder of
girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Thursday as a South African judge
dismissed the most serious charges against him.
"The state clearly has not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the
accused is guilty of premeditated murder," Thokozile Masipa said,
before dealing with the lesser charge of culpable homicide-- also known
as manslaughter.
"Viewed in its totality the evidence failed to establish that the
accused had the requisite intention to kill the deceased let alone
with premeditation," said Masipa.
"Clearly he did not objectively foresee this as a possibility, that
he would kill the person behind the door," she said as she later
dismissed the lesser charge of common murder.
The 27-year-old sat in the dock bowed and burying his head in his
hands after the finding was made.
Pistorius was charged with one count of murder and three firearms
offences over the killing on Valentine's Day 2013.
'Evasive'
Pistorius had grimaced and sniffled as he watched Masipa call
Pretoria's high court to order and read her verdict.
Both defence and prosecution agree Pistorius killed the law graduate
and model when he fired four shots through a locked toilet door in his
upmarket Pretoria home.
Oscar Pistorius is due to discover his fate tomorrow
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