News / Africa
Pistorius acquitted of all charge
21 May 2013 at 10:33hrs | Views
JOHANNESBURG - Carl Pistorius was acquitted of all charges, including culpable homicide and negligent driving, in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Pistorius was involved in an accident in 2008 in which motorcyclist, Marietjie Barnard died.
Earlier, the state dropped the culpable homicide charge against him because it was unable to prove the accident alone caused Barnard's death.
Magistrate Buks du Plessis initially told the court if Pistorius was even slightly negligent he would be found guilty regardless of whether Barnard was also driving poorly.
However, du Plessis found there was no reason to believe Pistorius was driving recklessly on the night of the accident and the state failed to prove its case of culpable homicide.
The magistrate said Barnard was clearly speeding and there was reason to believe she may have consumed alcohol prior to the crash.
Pistorius was teary-eyed as he embraced relatives after the acquittal.
He said a weight was lifted off his troubled family's shoulders.
Pistorius was involved in an accident in 2008 in which motorcyclist, Marietjie Barnard died.
Earlier, the state dropped the culpable homicide charge against him because it was unable to prove the accident alone caused Barnard's death.
Magistrate Buks du Plessis initially told the court if Pistorius was even slightly negligent he would be found guilty regardless of whether Barnard was also driving poorly.
However, du Plessis found there was no reason to believe Pistorius was driving recklessly on the night of the accident and the state failed to prove its case of culpable homicide.
The magistrate said Barnard was clearly speeding and there was reason to believe she may have consumed alcohol prior to the crash.
Pistorius was teary-eyed as he embraced relatives after the acquittal.
He said a weight was lifted off his troubled family's shoulders.
Source - EWN
