By:
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius convicted of culpable homicide
On September 12, 2014, South African track star Oscar Pistorius is found guilty of culpable homicide—a charge comparable to manslaughter—for killing his girlfriend, the model and reality television star Reeva Steenkamp. The conviction marks the culmination of a seven-month murder trial that drew huge international interest due to the couple’s celebrity status.
Pistorius, nicknamed the “Blade Runner,” gained worldwide notoriety when he became the first double-leg amputee to compete in the Olympics. He was selected for the 2012 South African Olympic team that would compete at the London Games, following a tremendous paralympic career in which he won eight Paralympic medals, six of which were gold. It was in the thick of this superstardom and at the height of his athletic career, that Pistorius’ life took a darker, more infamous turn.
On the morning of February 14, 2013, Pistorius shot Steenkamp four times through the bathroom door of his home, killing her. At the ensuing trial, Pistorius claimed to have mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder and to have shot her in self-defense. Prosecutors argued that he had intentionally killed her in the heat of a passionate fight.
In 2015, prosecutors appealed his initial conviction of culpable homicide and an appeals court upgraded the conviction to murder. In 2016, Pistorius’ sentence was increased to 13 years and five months in prison. He was released on parole in January 2024.
Charles Manson and His "Family" Go on Trial, 1971
Charles Manson and three female members of his "family" (Leslie Van Houten, Susan Atkins, and Patricia Krenwinkel) are escorted down the halls of a courthouse after receiving guilty verdicts on multiple counts of murder in one of the most shocking cases in history.
Also on This Day in History
Discover more of the major events, famous births, notable deaths and everything else history-making that happened on September 12th
Related
Crime
42 videos
The FBI released two sketches of the Unabomber suspect: the first in 1987 and a second, which became iconic, in 1994.
Orphaned at 14, Billy the Kid became one of the Wild West’s most legendary outlaws. But how much of his reputation matches the real man?
She was a key witness in Lizzie Borden's murder trial.
Fact Check
We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.
Citation Information
- Article Title
- Paralympian Oscar Pistorius convicted of culpable homicide
- Authors
- Website Name
- History
- Date Accessed
- October 21, 2026
- Publisher
- A&E Television Networks
- Last Updated
- September 10, 2026
- Original Published Date
- August 26, 2025
