Oscar Pistorius Murder Trial: Verdict Expected on Thursday
Six months after starting, a verdict in the Oscar Pistorius trial is expected Thursday.
The trial of the former Olympic athlete's alleged murder of his girlfriend on Valentine's Day in 2013 is nearing the end, ABC reported.
Once known as being the first disabled athlete to compete against able-bodied athletes in the 2012 London Olympics, the paralympian sprinter is now more widely known for the trial and the alleged death of his girlfriend.
The trial began March 3 and ended last Friday in front of Judge Thokozile Masipa in the North Gauteng High Court in South Africa, The Guardian reported.
Pistorius faces a premeditated murder charge for firing four shots through a toilet door in his home in Pretoria, which killed Reeva Steenkamp.
If he is found not guilty of all charges, Pistorious would be refunded his 1 million rand ($91,290) bail and could potentially file a civil suit against the minister of police and justice for any damages incurred during his prosecution, according to The Guardian.
But if found guilty, he would serve up to life imprisonment term in South Africa, which is 25 years, along with a fine and sentence for the firearm, totaling a maximum of about 30 years.
However South African law allows a parole hearing after 25 years, but he would still be on parole for the rest of his life.
Either way, Pistorius does have a chance to appeal both conviction and sentence, and can also be granted bail by the judge.
Pistorius is tense as verdict day approaches and exploded at reporters who asked how he was coping, News24 reported.
He told reporters he could not deal with it right now.
In addition, he has sold off most of the property he owns, including the home where the alleged murder took place which sold for 4.5 million rand.
Two other houses in Weeping Willow Estates, also in Pretoria, were each sold for about 1 million rand, News24 reported.
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