http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2014/dec/10/oscar-pistorius-judge-appeal-murder-acquittal-liveThe case will now move to South Africa’s supreme court of appeal in Bloemfontein.
The key point of dispute is the judge’s interpretation of dolus eventualis and the application of its principles to the circumstances of this case.
The judge’s decision to rule out murder by dolus eventualis – that is, that Pistorius subjectively foresaw that his actions in firing four shots into the door could have led to the death of the person behind it, but went ahead anyway – has attracted questions and criticism.
That should be cleared up in the supreme court.
That was a very short hearing but with some big news.
The judge has given the state leave to appeal against Pistorius’s acquittal on the charge of murder.
But the state was not given permission to appeal against the five-year sentence imposed, nor against the acquittal on the charge of possessing illegal ammunition.
Masipa says that in respect of count four – the acquittal on the charge of possessing illegal ammunition – she does not give the state leave to appeal.
