Oscar Pistorius, the Paralympic gold medalist who shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, through a bathroom door last year, is currently awaiting verdict for the crime.
After 39 days of tears, emotional breakdowns, and even vomiting, the prosecution and defense team have now parted ways to prepare separate closing statements for Judge Masipa for the high-profile Oscar Pistorius trial
The Blade Runner had pleaded not guilty of intentionally killing his girlfriend that night in 2013. His defense attorneys argue that he had thought an intruder was behind the door and not Steenkamp and he had acted in fear for his life. Pistorius and Steenkamp had been dating for three months prior to the incident.
According to BBC News, the prosecution will be filing its written statement on July 30 while the defense will be submitting theirs on August 4. The trial will resume on August 7 for both parties' final presentation. Court will adjourn for Judge Masipa and her assessors to deliberate and assess the case for the final verdict.
With these series of upcoming events in the Oscar Pistorius trial, four possible verdicts are expected by the end of the deliberations, according to Mirror UK.
The South African athlete could face a verdict of premeditated murder, murder, culpable homicide, or not guilty.
Premeditated murder is the most serious of the four, and also what the prosecution is charging the athlete with. This verdict would mean that Pistorius had 'malice aforethought' that Valentines Day in 2013.
Prosecution has argued that the gold medalist had already thought of killing his model girlfriend even before getting a hold of the gun he used to shoot her with. Witnesses also claim to have heard a woman scream before the gunshots, backing up the state's argument.
Should Pistorius be found guilty of premeditated murder, he would face life imprisonment with the possibility of parole only considered after 25 years of serving.
Should the court find the star athlete guilty of murder, he would have to face 15 years in prison. This would mean that Pistorius had intentions of killing the supposed burglar but was not aware that it was Steenkamp inside the bathroom. The shooting would be considered a crime of passion instead of a malicious act.
For culpable homicide, Pistorius would be guilty of negligence and not malice. Sentencing would be the discretion of the judge since the verdict has no minimal jail time specified. He could also avoid a custodial sentence entirely.
However, even if the Oscar Pistorius trial ends on a 'not guilty' verdict, the athlete would have to face three firearm charges. He could face a minimum of 15 years for these offenses.
