5 quotes from the Oscar judgment

Justice Leach delivers his verdict in the courtroom n Bloemfontein. Picture: Johan Pretorius

Justice Leach delivers his verdict in the courtroom n Bloemfontein. Picture: Johan Pretorius

Published Dec 3, 2015

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The Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein on Thursday overturned Oscar Pistorius's culpable homicide conviction and found him guilty of murder for killing his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Here are five quotes from the judgment delivered by Judge Eric Leach.

1. “This case involves a human tragedy of Shakespearean proportions: a young man overcomes huge physical disabilities to reach Olympic heights as an athlete; in doing so he becomes an international celebrity; he meets a young woman of great natural beauty and a successful model; romance blossoms; and then, ironically on Valentine’s Day, all is destroyed when he takes her life.”

2. "He must have foreseen, and therefore did foresee that the person he was firing at behind the door might be fatally injured, yet he fired without having a rational or genuine fear that his life was in danger.”

3."It is inconceivable that a rational person thought he was entitled to fire at this person with a heavy-duty firearm.”

4. “Pistorius gambled with that person's life.”

5. “The fact that this court has determined that certain mistakes were made should not be seen as an adverse comment upon her [Judge Masipa’s] competence and ability.”

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