South Africa’s Twittershpere erupted with a collective “WTF” this afternoon when Judge Thokozile Masipa found Oscar Pistorius “not guilty” on the charge of premeditated murder. She told the court that “there are not enough facts” to support the state’s case that Pistorius intentionally wanted to kill his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
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Masipa did note that there is “no doubt” that when Pistorius fired his gun “he acted unlawfully”. The judge is still to rule on whether or not the athlete will be found guilty of a lesser crime of culpable homicide for the death of 29-year-old Steenkamp.
South Africa’s Twittersphere has reacted to the verdict and some foreigners have questioned the safety of holidaying in the country due to the verdict. Masipa found Pistorius not guilty on both premeditated and second-degree murder three hours into delivering her her lengthy judgment.
What a lot of people are struggling with is how shooting 4 times into tiny space could not constitute intention to kill in judge's view.
— Rebecca Davis (@becsplanb) September 11, 2014
@becsplanb I won't be planning my hols in SA after this decision – not a safe place
— nick in windsor (@windsor1964) September 11, 2014
#OscarTrial Keep in mind, OP could still face a jail term. Culpable homicide carries max of 15 years but no minimum sentence.
— Mandy Wiener (@MandyWiener) September 11, 2014
In a strange way, being found not guilty will make it harder for Oscar because the public will want to punish him more.
— Sarah Britten (@Anatinus) September 11, 2014
Judge Masipa is using "reasonable man" test I think we need a reasonable Judge test #OscarPistorius #OscarTrial #OscarVerdict
— Joan Graves (@joangvs) September 11, 2014
Was #JudgeMasipa paid off? #OscarVerdict
— Eleanore Hutch (@elehutch) September 11, 2014
If #OscarPistorius is not guilty, my girlfriend should never go to the toilet after pissing me off #OscarVerdict #OscarTrial
— Siphilele Magidigidi (@Phila_mag) September 11, 2014
#JudgeMasipa verdict of not guilty for murder should be referred to @ThuliMadonsela3 for investigation. I don't believe her #OscarVerdict
— Siphiwe Sibanyoni (@kevinsiphiwe) September 11, 2014
OJ was found innocent as well, just saying! #OscarVerdict #OscarTrial
— Christophe Browne (@chris_debrun) September 11, 2014
