Warning
  • JUser: :_load: Unable to load user with ID: 165
Log in
A+ A A-

Oscar Pistorius' Trial Postponement

  • Written by 

Oscar Pistorius' trial, who was accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, was delayed until April 7th, due to the hospitalization of one of the two assessors.

As South Africa does not conduct jury trials, the two assessors will assist the judge's decision on his future fate.

The question remains not if he killed her but if it was murder. The verdict is dependent on two queries: Did the Olympian know his girlfriend was behind the bathroom door of his home when he shot the four shots through it? And if he was aware, did he conduct himself as a rational person would?

Crucial testimony will be heard only from Pistorius himself, as he was the only one home when the killing occurred. His version of what really went down that night can be summed up in his statements: "It was pitch dark in the bedroom, and I thought Reeva was in bed...felt a sense of terror...felt extremely vulnerable...has been a victim of violence and of burglaries before...We were deeply in love and I could not be happier". Pistorius wasn't wearing his prosthetic legs at the time which is a crucial element in his final sentencing.

If Judge Masipa believes this account, the athlete could be acquitted of murder. He could face lesser charges of culpable homicide. The defense will probably depend on three variations of experts to support Pistorius' theory; pathology, ballistics and psychiatry.