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Saturday 13 September 2014

Crucify Him! Media reaction to Oscar Pistorius verdict

Crucify Him!Media reaction to Oscar Pistorius verdict
South Africa’s media reacted with dismay to the Oscar Pistorius culpable homicide verdict handed down on Friday.
Pistorius faces a maximum prison sentence of 15 years as a result of being found guilty by Judge Thokozile Masipa after the Olympic and Paralympic sprinter shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead at his home on February 14 2013.

The 27-year-old was also found guilty of a firearms charge, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
It is a trial that has hit the headlines around the world, especially in Pistorius’ home county of South Africa.
“Oscar dodges bullet” read the headline in The Times newspaper in Johannesburg following this week’s developments as Judge Masipa ruled out two murder charges during Thursday’s proceedings.
It was a typical, if provocative, reaction echoed by most of the media in the country, with The Pretoria News leading with “Oscar’s great escape”.
Several South African newspapers, amongst them the Cape Argus, Cape Times and The New Age, chose to publish a particularly unflattering picture of an emotional Pistorius in court.
The Citizen newspaper was blunt in its assessment, simply saying on its front page “Jail him!” and The Independent on Saturday chose to run with a quote given by Steenkamp’s mother June shortly after court adjourned on Friday that said: “It’s not right.”
Pistorius was charged with the “wilful and intentional murder” of Steenkamp. He denies the charge as he claimed that he mistook her for an intruder after hearing a noise in the bathroom of his home.
The South African has been convicted of culpable homicide and his bail was extended on Friday as the court proceedings were adjourned until October 13.

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