Thokozile Masipa

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Pistorius Gets 6 Years for Murder

Judge goes easy on 'fallen hero'

(Newser) - Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to six years in prison Wednesday for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp , with the judge who decided the punishment calling the double-amputee Olympian a "fallen hero." South Africa's minimum sentence for murder is 15 years, but the judge said "substantial and...

Pistorius Guilty of Culpable Homicide

Sentence for negligent killing is at judge's discretion

(Newser) - Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of culpable homicide, or negligent killing, in the death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, the AP reports. South African Judge Thokozile Masipa found the athlete not guilty of murder or premeditated murder . Sentencing will begin Oct. 13, reports CNN , which says a typical sentence for...

Judge: Pistorius Not Guilty of Murder Charges

Judge rejects those charges, could find him guilty of culpable homicide

(Newser) - The judge in Oscar Pistorius' trial will not find him guilty of murder, but he could still be found guilty of lesser charges, including culpable homicide—the equivalent of manslaughter. As CNN puts it, "Under South African law, Pistorius will not be found guilty of 'murder.'"...

Pistorius Wasn't Mentally Ill: Experts

Runner could appreciate 'wrongfulness of his act'

(Newser) - After a month-long break in the Oscar Pistorius trial for a mental health evaluation, the results are in: The South African runner wasn't mentally ill when he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a panel says. The chief prosecutor read the findings, the BBC reports: Pistorius "did not suffer from...

Pistorius' Psych Eval: 7 Hours a Day, 30 Days

Docs look to determine whether he had anxiety disorder

(Newser) - It's confirmed: Following a judge's order , Oscar Pistorius will undergo 30 days of daily psychiatric assessment, pausing his trial until June 30. An expert team will seek to determine the athlete's condition when he killed Reeva Steenkamp, NBC News reports. Pistorius will be an outpatient at a...

Court Orders 30-Day Mental Health Eval for Pistorius

Psychiatrist cites possible anxiety disorder; trial will again be delayed

(Newser) - Oscar Pistorius' murder trial could be on hold for a while— again . Judge Thokozile Masipa has ordered the athlete to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, the BBC reports. South Africa requires such an evaluation, Masipa said, when mental health issues are raised in a case. A forensic psychiatrist, testifying for the...

After 17-Day Hiatus, Pistorius Trial Restarts

Neighbor takes stand for defense

(Newser) - Witnesses for the defense are again taking the stand after a 17-day break in Oscar Pistorius' murder trial . Pointing to scheduling conflicts, prosecutor Gerrie Nel called for the break; judge Thokozile Masipa supported the idea given the lengthy trial, NBC News reports. It was originally supposed to take just three...

Pistorius Trial Suspended
 Pistorius Trial Suspended 
Mar 28, 2014 3:23 AM CDT

Pistorius Trial Suspended

Judge's aide taken ill before defense case begins

(Newser) - Oscar Pistorius had been expected to take the stand in his murder trial today, but the beginning of the defense case has now been delayed until next month. Judge Thokozile Masipa says one of two legal experts helping her with the case is sick and the trial has been suspended...

Pistorius Trial: 'Bloodcurdling Screams,' Then Shots

South Africa gears up for 'trial of the century'

(Newser) - The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius is under way, with the double-amputee athlete pleading not guilty in what the New York Times calls a "clear voice" to the murder charge. The trial's first witness, neighbor Michelle Burger, then testified that she awoke after 3am on Feb. 14 of...

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