OSCAR PISTORIUS ACQUITTED OF MURDER CHARGE

JUDGE Thokozile Masipa has cleared the South African Paralympian, Oscar Pistorius of the murder and premeditated murder charge levelled against him by the State prosecutor. The concluding part of the verdict will be delivered tomorrow morning, as the court went on a recess on the instance of the judge. However, the disgraced athlete could still be found of culpable homicide [equivalent of manslaughter] which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years. Unfortunately for the accused, Judge Masipa subtly hinted on this conviction in the course of today's proceedings which was characterised by a tensed atmosphere, and Oscar's emotional outbursts and weeping.
  On arriving at today's verdict, Judge Masipa questioned the reliability of witnesses who said they heard screams and gunshots on the night Reeva Steenkamp was killed. She,however, stated that the athlete ''acted too hastily'' when he fired the fatal shots and his conduct was ''negligent.''