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PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — A resident of the South African city of Port Elizabeth calls the verdict "shocking, to say the least."
Leonard Gray is talking about a judge's decision not to convict track star Oscar Pistorius of murder in the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who was from Port Elizabeth.
The judge today instead found Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide. The judge said there wasn't enough evidence that Pistorius knew Steenkamp was behind a locked toilet door in his home when he shot through the door. He has said he thought there was an intruder there.
Not everyone in Steenkamp's home town is finding fault with the verdict. One resident said prosecutors hadn't proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the killing was intentional.
Family members of the double-amputee Olympic track star are expressing relief. An uncle says the family "never had any doubt in Oscar's version of this tragic incident."
Members of Steenkamp's family were in court to hear the verdict. And a close friend of Steenkamp's cried in court as the verdict was read.
Some legal analysts said they understood why Pistorius was found not guilty of premeditated murder but were surprised that the runner was not convicted of murder.
%@AP Links
136-a-08-(Arnold Pistirus, uncle of Oscar Pistorius, reading family statement after verdict was announced)-"in Oscar's version"-Arnold Pistorius says the family has always supported Oscar. (12 Sep 2014)
<<CUT *136 (09/12/14)££ 00:08 "in Oscar's version"
145-a-17-(Leonard Gray, resident of Port Elizabeth, Reeva Steenkamp hometown, in AP interview)-"of culpable homicide"-Leonard Gray, who lives in Reeva Steenkamp's hometown, says he thinks Oscar Pistorius is "getting away with murder." (12 Sep 2014)
<<CUT *145 (09/12/14)££ 00:17 "of culpable homicide"
APPHOTO XDF120: Mother of the late Reeva Steenkamp, June Steenkamp, in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Sept. 12, 2014. In passing judgement judge Thokozile Masipa ruled out a murder conviction for the double-amputee Olympian in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, but said he was negligent and convicted him of culpable homicide. (AP Photo/Alon Skuy, Pool) (12 Sep 2014)
<<APPHOTO XDF120 (09/12/14)££
APPHOTO XDF129: Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock looking in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Sept. 12, 2014. Judge Thokozile Masipa found Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide for the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Sentencing procedures will start Oct. 13. (AP Photo/Siphiwe Sibeko, Pool) (12 Sep 2014)
<<APPHOTO XDF129 (09/12/14)££
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