Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of murder by the Supreme Court. Judge Eric Leach announced that the state’s appeal in the Oscar Pistorius case was successful.
Last year a judge gave Pistorius a five-year jail sentence for “culpable homicide” of Reeva Steenkamp, but prosecutors say he should be convicted of murder for firing four shots through a locked toilet door.
Leach said that he found Judge Thokozile Masipa’s thinking confusing.
“Even on the finding that he did not know it was Steenkamp behind the toilet door‚ it did not matter. Even if he was under the impression that Reeva was in bed‚ he had necessary intent to bring [about] the demise of the person behind the door‚” said Leach.
Hence whether Pistorius knew it was Steenkamp behind the door wasn’t actually relevant on this issue.
Leach said that in light of the improbabilities in Pistorius’ testimony, and the three different versions he provided, one can’t really say why he fired.
Leach held that a retrial would be impractical. The court has set aside the culpable homicide conviction. Pistorius is guilty of murder. He will have to go before a court again – to argue over his sentence.