Pretoria - “Oscar Pistorius can count himself flippin’ lucky.”
This was the reaction of an advocate outside the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria seconds after Judge Thokozile Masipa made it clear that she was not going to convict him for any form of murder.
While she had not yet officially delivered her final verdict, she said – shortly before adjourning the proceedings to Friday – “it was clear that his conduct was negligent”.
This is an indication that she had now turned to a culpable homicide option.
Pistorius seemed a bit more relaxed by Thursday afternoon.
This was in total contrast to his behaviour during the morning, when he cried bitterly, especially just after the judge had found him to be a “very poor and evasive witness”.
Tears streamed down his face, and when the court adjourned for the lunch break, he remained seated in the dock, with his head in his hands.
Pistorius’s brother Carl, who had been in an serious car accident a few weeks ago, attended the judgment in a wheelchair and made his way to Pistorius’s side.
Their sister Aimee took a seat next to Pistorius in the dock and the three sat huddled for several minutes, praying and holding each other.
It was clearly an emotional time for them.
Aimee also sat crying in the front row of the public gallery and mumbled to herself as in prayer as Judge Masipa started to deliver her verdict.
Reeva Steenkamp’s family – her mother June and father Barry, as well as several other family members who attended the proceedings for the first time – sat stony-faced as the judge made it clear she would not convict Pistorius on any form of murder.
The family declined to speak to the media as they made their way out of the court after the day’s proceedings. The Pistorius camp also declined to comment.
Jacqui Mofokeng, spokeswoman of the ANC Women’s League, said the family were holding up.
“We just want justice to prevail. We have confidence in our justice system.”
Busi Khumalo, mother of murdered Zanele, who was also killed by her boyfriend, was at court on Thursday to comfort June Steenkamp.
The pair met at the end of March this year, when her daughter’s killer was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Khumalo said while it was sad for her to be back, she had to be at June’s side to help her through this difficult time.
While a packed public gallery sat waiting in anticipation for the verdict to start, the judge’s registrar, flanked by two heavily armed Tactical Task Team members, entered the court shortly before 9.30am with the written judgment.
This was placed on the judge’s bench, well within sight of the policemen who positioned themselves on each side of the bench. They remained there during the entire proceedings and kept their eyes on the judgment during breaks.
The news that Pistorius would not be convicted of murder received mixed reactions outside court.
Some speculated that the judge had misinterpreted the law and come to the wrong conclusion.
But Kayla Nolan, a disabled woman who is a big Pistorius fan, gave a sigh of relief. “I am so happy. I always believed in him,” she said.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the court building to get a glimpse of Pistorius. Some had taken time off work to try to get news of the verdict.
Lizette Naudé was adamant before the start of the proceedings that Pistorius would be found guilty.
“He has to pay for his deeds and he has to go to jail,” she said.
Her colleague, Dawid Cilliers, said he would prefer Pistorius to be acquitted on all charges.
“Perhaps he did shoot her by mistake, believing she was an intruder. Who knows?” he said.
Pretoria News