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The verdict could go on for days. AP/Press Association Images

It's D-Day for Oscar Pistorius. Here's how the verdict will play out:

There are three possible verdicts.

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.

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.

South Africa Pistorius Trial Judge Thokozile Masipa will give her judgement on each witness. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

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.

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.

South Africa Pistorius The Judge A verdict of premeditated murder mean at least 25 years imprisonment. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Sentencing: A second trial

If there is any conviction, prosecutors and Pistorius’ defence 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. Defence 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.

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.

Read: The verdict in the Oscar Pistorius trial will be delivered on 11 September >

Read: Oscar Pistorius described as a deceitful witness who has ‘anxiety on call’ >

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16 Comments
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    Mute winding_down
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:17 AM

    Thank you.

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    Mute Robert Rusk
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:33 AM

    “Boole’s work in mathematicians is now central to the design of computer circuits.”

    Boole’s work is in fact one of the most important concepts in computer science (if not THE most important). It is a fundamental building block of modern logical reasoning.

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    Mute UndercoverGarda
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:17 PM

    How easy is it to count in binary?

    It’s as easy as 01 10 11.

    73
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    Mute Leigh Power
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    Dec 10th 2014, 1:27 PM

    There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don’t.

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    Mute Robert Rusk
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    Dec 10th 2014, 4:47 PM

    “Boole’s work in mathematics is now central to computer science.”

    Close enough …

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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:21 AM

    Fair play to the both of them

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    Mute Atticus the Accuser
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:00 PM

    P.C gone mad! If a scientist of his calibre has a theory maybe the evidence should be explored before the witch hunt and burning commences.

    There’s a reason you only see black guys winning the Olympic 100m sprint Gold and there’s a reason you don’t see them win any medals for swimming! To state such a fact is true!

    Human intelligence has a genetic component and also takes in environmental factors.No surprise that Bill Gates in school by random chance had access to one of the most advance computers in the USA at the time.He had the genetic predisposition of a high intellect and the right factors in his environment and he became a Titan in computers.

    If people in Africa don’t have the same standard in education well obviously they’re unlikely to fulfil any genetic potential in intelligence. It doesn’t mean under different environment they wouldn’t.

    If someone said all black people are not as smart as all white people that statement is false and obviously racist.But if someone said due to environmental conditions plenty of Africans may not develop the full potential of intelligence compared to the Western population that statement has evidence.

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    Mute Dee4
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:22 PM

    @Att , re your swimming example it depends on the reasoning and if the reasoning is true. Swimming is a relatively expensive middle class activity so chances are Africa will not feature high in Olympic swimming or Dressage or yachting. If its genetic , less buoyancy (I have no idea) then its either true or not true. The next issue would be misusing the facts for propaganda to propagate hate.

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    Mute Leviathan
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    Dec 10th 2014, 3:07 PM

    Can you explain to me how swimming is a relatively expensive “middle class” activity?

    Aside from a pair of shorts…you really don’t need anything else for it. Its no different than walking either…you wouldn’t necessarily need lessons to learn, just an attentive parent.

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    Mute Andrew McQuillan
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    Dec 10th 2014, 5:45 PM

    Atticus, your last paragraph is not an accurate description of the comments of this man. Unintentionally or not, you have rewritten a version based on a possible intention of different phraseology. His own words were very different, racist, and at odds with the scientific research that his own developments unlocked.

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    Mute Vera Dawber Power
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:31 AM

    What a wonderful kind gesture..God bless you..and thanks.

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    Mute Thierry Rat
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:14 PM

    POlitical correctness restricts science

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    Mute Frank
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:53 AM

    Barack Obama should do the same with his with all the proceeds going towards victims of drone strikes.

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    Mute Dee4
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:21 AM

    bit if a misleading headline, if I understand the story he will donate a % of 3million? hardly the same as “donate some of his millions to an Irish university”

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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:30 AM

    Indeed. 4 plus “other” charities will also get a share of the 3 million so hardly millions each as claimed.

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    Mute Dee4
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:40 PM

    Why all the dislikes?? the article states the proceeds are €3.8 million and he will give some to cork, which to implies a sum probably well under a million

    “Watson said he hopes to use some of the proceeds of the medal’s auction to set up an institute dedicated to George Boole at University College Cork.”

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    Mute Steve M
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:56 PM

    Puts into perspective some of the comments you see here like yesterday “Thats why everyone hates Americans” “Americans are fat and stupid” etc

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    Mute Leviathan
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    Dec 10th 2014, 3:32 PM

    Those crusties generally are only referring to white, Christian Americans. Its the safe group to slag off without offending their PC cohorts.

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    Mute Ollie
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    Dec 10th 2014, 4:37 PM

    Well done to both

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    Mute jp quinn
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    Dec 10th 2014, 5:14 PM

    Boole is Cool.

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    Mute johnhindepost
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    Dec 11th 2014, 12:22 AM

    100% William Rowan Hamilton, 1005 George Boole and 52% of James Watson are Irish.

    Mathematics and the fundamentals of computing discovered by Irish.
    Now we know why all these companies are setting up second base here in Ireland.
    We Irish got the geek gene……………..yehaw!!!

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    Mute Colm Kelly
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    Dec 11th 2014, 4:32 AM

    Boole was English

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