Olympian Oscar Pistorius found Guilty of Murder

Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee Olympian who captured the hearts of people throughout the world, has been found guilty of murder on Thursday. The South African appeals court described the fatal shooting of Pisotrius's girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, as "a human tragedy of Shakespearean proportions."

"A young man overcomes huge physical disabilities to reach Olympian heights as an athlete," Judge Eric Leach said reported by the Washington Post. "In doing so he becomes an international celebrity. He meets a young woman of great natural beauty and a successful model. Romance blossoms and then ironically, on Valentine's Day, all is destroyed when he takes her life."

Pistorius was arrested and charged when he shot Steenkamp through a toilet door in 2013. He had claimed that he believed she was an intruder. Judge Leach stated that regardless of who was behind the door, Pistorius did not have a right to shoot knowing that the person could be killed.

"I have no doubt that in firing the fatal shots, the accused must have foreseen... that whoever was behind the toilet door might die, but reconciled himself to that event occurring and gambled with that person's life," the judge said according to TIME. "The identity of his victim is irrelevant to his guilt."

The murder conviction will lead to a prison sentence that will most likely begin in the new year. Pistorius spent one year in prison for a five-year sentence that Judge Thokozile Masipa delivered. Her verdict was heavily criticized because it did not factor in murder by "dolus eventualis." In this situation, the phrase points to the fact that Pistorius should have known that if he shot at the door, the person behind it would most likely end up dead.

"It was difficult for her to decide whether it was murder or manslaughter," a source close to the judge said while defending her verdict. "She really struggled with that and took a long time to make her decision."

Pistorius's new sentence will be determined by the North Gauteng High Court. The shortest sentence for a murderer is 15 years but due to several variables, he could get a shorter time.

Pistorius was not present when the court made its announcement.

"The legal team will study the finding and we will be guided by them in terms of options going forward," a statement from his family read.

"For us as a family, we can get on with our lives now and I hope his family can get on with their lives now," Barry Steenkamp, the father of the victim, said.

A date for the sentencing has not been set.