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‘No victors’ in Oscar trial – Arnold Pistorius
There are no victors in the outcome of paralympian Oscar Pistorius's trial for murder, his uncle Arnold Pistorius said in the High Court in Pretoria on Friday.
FILE PICTURE: Arnold, uncle of paralympian Oscar Pistorius, listens to judgment being handed down at the High Court in Pretoria on Friday, 12 September 2014. Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide. Judge Thokozile Masipa further ruled that he was acquitted on charges of illegal possession of ammunition and one of the charges on the illegal discharge of a firearm in a public place.But he was found guilty on the illegal discharge of a firearm in a restaurant called Tashas in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg in January 2013.Picture:Alon Skuy/Times Media Group/Pool
“In a tragic event like this, there’s no victors. We, as a family, remain deeply affected by the devastating tragedy,” he told reporters in court after proceedings.
His wife Lois was at his side.
The family was “deeply grateful” to Judge Thokozile Masipa for finding Pistorius not guilty of murder, he said.
Pistorius’s R1 million bail was extended by the court.
“I have used my discretion in favour of the accused. I grant the application to extend the bail of the accused,” Masipa ruled at 1pm.
She found Pistorius not guilty of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14 last year, but found him guilty on a lesser charge of culpable homicide.
“It won’t bring Reeva back, but our hearts still go out to her family and friends,” said Arnold Pistorius.
The verdict had lifted a “big burden” from the family’s shoulders.
“We never had any doubt in Oscar’s version of the matter,” he said.
As the case was still before the court, he said it would be “highly inappropriate” to comment on the findings or the merits of the case.
He, his wife, and family spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess left without taking any questions.
Sentencing proceedings have been set down to start on October 13.
The paralympian had also faced three charges of contravening the Firearms Control Act — one of illegal possession of ammunition and two of discharging a firearm in public.
Masipa found Pistorius not guilty of shooting through the open sunroof of a car with his 9mm pistol while driving with friend Darren Fresco and ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor in Modderfontein on September 30, 2012.
She found him guilty of firing Fresco’s Glock pistol under a table at Tasha’s restaurant in Johannesburg in January 2013.
On the final charge, illegal possession of ammunition, he was found not guilty.
– Sapa
