Oscar Pistorius’ net worth has dived ever since going on trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Pistorius says he mistook Steenkamp, who was in the couple’s bathroom behind a door, as an intruder, while prosecutors tried to show that Pistorius allegedly knew it was Steenkamp in the bathroom.
A verdict is coming on September 11.
Pistorius was pegged at one point with a net worth of $5 million as he garnered endorsements and other accumulations as he trained for and participated in the 2008 Summer Paralympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Before the trial started Pistorius owned three houses and a vacant plot in South Africa worth a total of approximately 8.3 million rand ($936,000).
Movable assets, which included furniture, cars, and jewelry, totaled about $56,000.
Pistorius also said that had cash investments of over 1 million rand, or $112,000, and an annual income of $631,000. He also had some more money in savings.
But Pistorius’ wealth and net worth dwindled as the trial dragged on, leaving him to sell at least one of the homes. He finished the sale on the most expensive home--the one where he killed Steenkamp--late last month, garnering about 4.5 million rand.
Pistorius had said that the home was worth approximately 8.3 million rand ($936,000) at one point, but was unable to get a better offer. Lawyer Brian Webber said in a statement earlier this year that it had “become necessary” to sell the villa, which is in a gated community in Pretoria, because of trial costs.
The Daily Mail reported earlier this year that trial costs are said to be as high as $9,000 a day, which pays for the team of at least three full-time lawyers in court, experts in forensics and ballistics, and an American crime scene reconstruction company.
See an Associated Press update below.
Pistorius: How the verdict will be delivered
In this Friday, May 9, 2014 file photo Judge Thokozile Masipa, to right of door in red cape, and her advocates examine the bullet-riddled toilet door up close during expert forensics evidence being given at the Oscar Pistorius murder trial in in Pretoria, South Africa. Judge Masipa is expected to announce her verdict after summing up Thursday and Friday in Pistorius’ murder trail after scrutinizing evidence given by 37 witnesses in a court transcript running to thousands of pages in a drama that has played out over six months. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, Pool, File)
JOHANNESBURG— Guilty or not guilty? The verdict in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial will not be delivered so simply.
Judge Thokozile Masipa will first recount and analyze the evidence given by each of the nearly 40 witnesses in the criminal case that captured considerable international attention. The verdict on whether Pistorius intentionally killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp is expected to take hours, maybe days.
And if there are any convictions on the four charges Pistorius faces — murder and three unrelated firearm charges — sentences will only be decided later at a separate hearing.
Here’s a look at how it might unfold.
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VERDICT PROCESS
Because South Africa has no trial by jury, Judge Masipa must show why she and her two legal assessors reached their decision on each count. The process will likely take most of Thursday’s court session and might run into Friday.
The judge will give a summary of the testimony of all 37 witnesses. Masipa will then give her assessment of each witness — including Pistorius — and what was accepted or rejected from their testimony. Then, she will give a summary of her own findings based on how she interpreted the evidence and how it ties in with the law. Finally, she will pronounce Pistorius guilty or not guilty on the charges: Murder, two charges of unlawfully shooting a gun in public in unrelated incidents and one count of illegal possession of ammunition.
Pistorius will likely be asked to stand while the judgment is read out.
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POSSIBLE VERDICTS
Murder: If Pistorius is convicted of murder — of intentionally killing Steenkamp — the judge will explain if she found it was with premeditation, as prosecutors argue, or not. There is a longer prison term for premeditated or pre-planned murder.
Culpable homicide: If Pistorius is acquitted of murder, which he pleaded not guilty to, he still faces a culpable homicide or negligent killing charge even though it isn’t on the indictment. That’s because the double-amputee Olympic runner shot Steenkamp and must also be judged on whether he acted negligently in her death, even if it’s found he didn’t intend to kill her.
Acquitted: Pistorius could be acquitted of both murder and culpable homicide if the judge finds he had no intention to kill and also acted reasonably.
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WILL PISTORIUS REMAIN FREE ON BAIL?
If convicted, Pistorius would likely remain free on bail until sentencing because he has been out on bail during the trial, legal expert Marius du Toit said. However, that’s not guaranteed and the judge could order Pistorius be taken into custody. A defendant’s bail expires on conviction, meaning Masipa must make a new ruling on bail if Pistorius is convicted.
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SENTENCING: A SECOND TRIAL
If there is any conviction, prosecutors and Pistorius’ defense lawyers will have the chance to present witnesses in a separate sentencing hearing before Masipa decides if and how long Pistorius goes to prison. In what amounts to a second trial, prosecutors could call members of Steenkamp’s family, maybe her mother and father, to testify for sentencing. Defense lawyers might call psychiatrists to argue for a lighter sentence.
Premeditated murder calls for a life sentence in prison with a minimum of 25 years before the chance of parole in South Africa, which does not have the death penalty. Murder without pre-planning has a minimum of 15 years in prison.
Culpable homicide has five years if a gun is used, but this can be increased or decreased depending on circumstances. For example, the fact that Pistorius fired multiple times into a small space and didn’t fire a warning shot first could count against him.
The three unrelated firearm charges Pistorius faces usually carry fines or suspended sentences on conviction.
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APPEAL
Du Toit said an appeal is “extremely likely” and predicts that Pistorius would probably appeal if he is given any jail time. An appeal can only happen after sentencing. Pistorius could appeal against a conviction, against a sentence, or against both. The possibility is one of the reasons why Judge Masipa must be so thorough in the verdict she reads out on Thursday.
“The appeal courts start by reading her judgment,” Du Toit said.
MORE:
Judge Thokozile Masipa: Bio, Pictures, Previous Cases of Oscar Pistorius Judge
Carl Pistorius Update: Oscar Pistorius Brother May Not be at Court When Verdict is Given
