Twitter outrage over Pistorius’ verdict

Johannesburg: Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius being cleared of murder in his trial on Thursday left many people in shock.  People took to social networking sites to voice their disappointment.

A shocked Twitter user posted that Pistorius had been found ‘not guilty?’ adding that “he killed his girlfriend and questioned if this was a sick joke”. Another user tweeted that he couldn’t believe Pistorius had been found not guilty of murder, and he had intended to kill his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

During the first half of her judgment on Thursday, Judge Thokozile Masipa found Pistorius not guilty of murder but could still be found guilty of culpable homicide.

Judgment is expected to continue on Friday.

Pistorius said he thought an intruder was behind the door of the toilet in his Pretoria home when he shot through it. He fired four times, killing Steenkamp on February 14, 2013 and the State argued that the murder was premeditated.

Pistorius pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, and to three firearm-related charges. Following Masipa’s finding on murder, some people on Twitter expressed sympathy with the Steenkamp family.

A user tweeted, “Speechless. Rest in peace, Reeva, sorry there is no justice and no closure for your family’. Another user posted that if he feels completely depressed about Pistorius’ judgement, he cannot imagine how Steenkamp’s parents must feel.”

Yet another user posted that this should have been about justice for Steenkamp’s death and not excuses for OP supreme domestic violence, and added ‘bad decision so far’ to his tweet.

A few Twitter users cracked jokes about the finding that Pistorius was acquitted of murder, with one user posting: “What does England and Pistorius have in common,” adding “looks like both would get away Scot free.”

If charged with manslaughter, Pistorius could still get away from being imprisoned in the notorious prison of South Africa. The department of correctional services said in a statement released that disabled prisoners could be entitled to separate accommodation.

While responding to several requests for information, the department said separate accommodation is arranged depending on the vulnerability caused by the disability and added inmates are accommodated in line with their type of disability. However, the department also said each case is based on its own merits.

Pistorius had both legs amputated below the knee as a child.