Posted on 09/10/2014 11:24:32 PM PDT by BunnySlippers
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - After 41 days of tears, anguish and at times gruesome testimony in the Pretoria High Court, Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee who became one of the biggest names in athletics, will learn this week whether he will spend the next 25 years behind bars.
In a fitting reminder of how South Africa has changed in the 20 years since apartheid, the fate of Pistorius, a wealthy white man from privileged roots, rests in the hands of a 66-year-old black woman from Soweto, Judge Thokozile Masipa.
Throughout the on-off six-month trial, Masipa - only the second black woman to rise to the bench in South Africa - has remained calm and impassive, seemingly impervious to the global interest in a case that has drawn comparisons to the 1995 murder trial of American football star OJ Simpson in California.
For Pistorius, the options when Masipa starts delivering her judgement on Thursday, winding up probably on Friday, are stark.
(Excerpt) Read more at af.reuters.com ...
If the [black female] judge sides with the state he will receive a mandatory 25 year sentence in some of the worst jails in the world.
Since his family is very wealthy, I expect him to get off scott free,
Rest in Peace, Reeva.
A LIVE video feed here
will cover the verdict in a few hours.
This “trial” has lasted as almost as long as our presidential election campaigns. For everyone’s sake, let it be over soon. I suspect the media is wringing every drop of ratings out of this, just as during the O.J, Trials so long ago.
Another, hopefully better, LIVE feed.
And a photo of Bladerunner without his blades on:
Well, they decided to send Oscar in to be evaluated for his mental standing. I was a daily trial junkie until then.
A South African icon caught killing a GF when he lost his temper.
I hope it’s some of the longest 25 years anyone’s ever spent in a prison.
This drama queen murdered his gf in a conniption fit temper tantrum and then tries to whine and cry his way out of it.
25 years??? that's it? sheesh...
The “vomit bucket” he had to have every day. The over the top crying. The sad photos of the crime scene.
I’m worried his family has bought the verdict. If not, surely they will fly him out of Africa.
Certainly a spoiled brat isn’t he?
I understand many So Africans were deeply disappointed in him. He was a huge hero at one time.
If the blade don’t fit, you must acquit.
Interesting article about “how the verdict comes down”.
It can take hours ... or days.
http://time.com/3318553/oscar-pistorius-trial-reeva-steenkamp-south-africa/
25 years, on the other hand, would be tantamount to taking a slug from a vat of brine (25 days) to dropping it in the middle of the Pacific (25 years).
If Pistorious is convicted his goose is literally cooked.
Verdict is starting to come down now. The judge is throwing out some of the state’s case.
It’s not looking good for a guilty verdict.
Pistorius looking bad ... breaking down.
Looking bad for the state ... and good for Pistorius.
Pistorius is crying.
OMG, judge is saying Pistorius’s story makes sense.
Judge saying witnesses got facts wrong. :o(
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