By Tobi Alli
Although South African Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius has been cleared of murder (the premeditated murder charge), the Judge’s verdict has not ruled out ‘culpable homicide’ (also known as manslaughter) for which he might still be jailed.
Culpable homicide is the ‘unlawful killing of a human being due to negligence’ and is a charge that focuses on negligence rather than intent. An example of culpable homicide is: reckless driving resulting in another person’s death.
Although there is no defined sentence/punishment for culpable homicide, the judge is expected to use her discretion in sentencing the suspect, based on the circumstances surrounding the case at hand.
However, when it seemed Judge Masipa Thoaozile was moving towards a verdict on the charge of culpable homicide, she abruptly broke the court session and adjourned for the day.
The court will resume session tomorrow morning, hopefully to hear her decision on the ‘culpable homicide’ charge right away.
Pistorius is standing trial for the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp who was shot and killed last year February.
Photo: Twitter
