Oscar Pistorius Sentencing Update: Could self-defense plea considered reasonable for a not guilty verdict?

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Oscar Pistorius is set to face the court on Monday, as scheduled by Thokozile Matilde Masipa, due to his premeditated murder case.

The Olympian was accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his house at Pretoria, South Africa, possessing a firearm for killing, and gun firing on public prior to the alleged murder.

The court will be deciding whether he is guilty; and once he is, he'll be forced to face a life sentence. Life sentencing in South Africa is approximately 25 years long (based on the South African life sentencing practice).

Despite the sentencing and guilty findings, he may hold on to the good news of the jury to accept considerations - such as the number of offense, the age of the convict.., and on his case, his disability. Moreover, reports from the past week said he has psychiatric problems.

Meanwhile, Pistorius stated "I made a mistake". He may be found guilty on unlawfully murdering Reeva or he may have done a self-defense. In his case, there is a possibility that the verdict is not guilty and he was just accused of intentionally killing Reeva without considering his right to defend himself.

"I'm expecting that if he beats the murder charge, he is in very grave jeopardy of being convicted of culpable homicide," James Grant, who is a criminal law professor at University of Witwatersrand, explained on CNN.

Pistorius has emphasized during the cross-examination that he "pulled the trigger by accident" and "it was an accident". These could be used as withstand to declare "Putative Private Defense" - which would possibly mean that he was just acting on a self-defense (reasonable for human rights action) that night of the incident.

In addition, during the cross-examination they have theorized Steenkamp locked herself inside the bathroom, Pistorius chased her, and while she was screaming in terror, more physical fights happened then he accidentally pulled the trigger.

The trial on Monday will probably long enough to hold the declaration of the witnesses, the closing arguments, and the judge's scheduling for the verdict. If the "Blade Runner" is found guilty on the verdict date, scheduling of his sentence will probably be settled before the end of July.

Tags
Oscar pistorius, Oscar Pistorius case, Oscar Pistorius trial, Crime and Investigation, South Africa

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