Mark Williams Thomas sums up Oscar Pistorius case
As the judge begins delivering her verdict in the Oscar Pistorius trial, Mark Williams Thomas, the only journalist to have spent time with the athlete during his arrest, sums up the case for us.
South Africa is a country steeped in history - but from what I have observed over the past year it could not be further from the old regime and that of apartheid.
The case against Oscar Pistorius is one of the largest - if not the largest - of the decade , not just in South Africa but around the world.
The new South Africa is evident in Judge Thokozile Masipa, who is presiding over such an important trial. She is a former social worker turned journalist who was once arrested and jailed for taking part in a protest.
Her significance in the trail will be played out tomorrow - when along with her two assistants she will decide Oscar's fate, giving her verdicts on all the charges that he faces.
MurderOscar admits to killing Reeva but it is up to the judge to decide if she believes him and his account - that he believed an intruder was in the house, or if as the prosecution believe that he deliberately shot Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of 14 February 2013, Valentine's Day, following an argument.
He has pleaded not guilty, saying he heard a noise coming from the bathroom. Fearing there was an intruder in the house and with gun in hand he fired four rounds in quick succession after hearing a noise. He says he did not mean to pull the trigger.
The minimum sentence for pre-mediated murder is 25 years.
Culpable HomicideIf Oscar is found not-guilt of murder Judge Masipa must decide if he is guilty of culpable homicide. The closest equivalent charge that we have in the England and Wales is manslaughter.
The question she must ask is: 'Were Oscar’s actions reasonable?' If the judge believes he believed an intruder was in the house and he acted reasonably then he is not guilty. However if she decides his actions were not reasonable, based on the reckless firing of the gun, then he is guilty of culpable homicide.
Two Counts of Discharge of FirearmCount 1 relates to the alleged discharged of a firearm at Tasha's restaurant on 11th January 2013.
Count 2 is the alleged discharge of a firearm through a car sunroof on the 30th November 2012
Illegal Possession of AmmunitionThis count relates to Oscar allegedly being in possession of .38 ammunition - without a licence for a gun that fires that ammunition - or appropriate authority to posses the ammunition,
Judge Thokozile Masipa starts delivering her verdict at 08:30 (UK time) today (Thursday 11 September) . I will be bringing you the latest developments and verdicts live on the This Morning.
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