Livepic.twitter.com/KfNJHVRtPHpic.twitter.com/tyGhHUckjP 8.30am BSTThe Steenkamp and Pistorius families are already in the courtroom,though Oscar Pistorius himself is yet to arrive.
Both Barry and June Steenkamp, the parents of Reeva Steenkamp, and are present. There have been reports that Barry Steenkamp – who has not previously spoken in court – might appear as a witness for the prosecution to argue for a strong sentence for the man who killed his daughter.#OscarPistorius The court is packed - family and friends already in court
MV pic.twitter.com/6C8tTM9P2D 8.20am BSTHow did we come by here,more than three years after Pistorius shot dead Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria domestic, firing four bullets through a locked toilet cubicle door?In 2014, and the former athlete was found guilty by Judge Masipa – after a trial lasting many months – of culpable murder,but cleared of murder. Masipa found that while Pistorius had acted recklessly, he had not intended to kill Steenkamp.
As a result of the errors of law … and on a proper appraisal of the facts, or he ought to have been convicted not of culpable murder on that count but of murder.
In the interests of justice the conviction and the sentence imposed in respect thereof must be set aside and the conviction substituted with a conviction of the right offence.
I have no doubt … the accused must have foreseen and therefore did foresee that whoever was behind that door might die. 8.08am BSTWelcome to live coverage as what looks to be the final stage of the long trial of Oscar Pistorius for the death of Reeva Steenkamp gets underway in Pretoria today.
Pistorius will appear before his original trial judge,Thokozile Masipa, for a sentencing hearing, or as his lawyers seek to persuade the court that his circumstances mitigate against the minimum jail term for murder of 15 years.
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Source: theguardian.com