PARALYMPIC athlete Oscar Pistorius is facing jail after being found guilty of the manslaughter of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
South African High Court judge Thokozile Masipa yesterday dismissed prosecution claims that the double-amputee intentionally killed the 29-year-old, saying Pistorius could not be convicted of either pre-meditated or second-degree murder.
But this morning, she said the 27-year-old Olympian had been “negligent” in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year when he fatally shot the law graduate-turned-model.
The South African was convicted of culpable homicide - the South African equivalent of the UK’s manslaughter charge – and one gun charge relating to a restaurant shooting.
Pistorius always admitted being responsible for her death at his home in Pretoria, but said he mistook his partner for intruders and fired four bullets from his 9mm pistol through the toilet cubicle.
He stood with his hands crossed to hear the verdict but showed no emotion.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
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