Pistorius a 'broken man' ahead of murder trial verdict

Oscar Pistorius, above, will know his fate when Judge Thokozile Masipa returns a verdict in a month. Photo / AP

Oscar Pistorius has been described as "broken" by an investigative journalist with exclusive access to the athlete, who will hear the verdict of his murder trial later tonight.

The sportsman claims that the death of his late girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, was an accident. He alleges that he mistook the 29-year-old for an intruder and panicked, shooting through the bathroom door out of fear on Valentine's Day 2013.

Later tonight NZ time, Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa will decide his fate.

Photo / AFP

"He is a broken man," said journalist Mark Williams-Thomas. "He made it very clear that whatever punishment is given to him tomorrow, nothing will bring Reeva back. He loves her dearly and wishes the circumstances were different.

"No punishment will be anywhere near the punishment he has for himself because he's lost someone he was in love with. And let's remember he was only going out with her for three months; they were still very much in a courting relationship."

The trial spanned six and a half months. If he is found guilty of premeditated murder, he faces 25 years in prison. A lesser charge of culpable homicide could see him imprisoned for 15 years or a non-custodial sentence.

"[Pistorius] is obviously devastated, I think it's very important to set out that Oscar admits to having shot - and obviously as a result of that - Reeva died, but he's also very clear in that it was a very tragic accident, that he didn't intend to, and he believed someone was in the house," continued Williams-Thomas during an interview on This Morning.

Photo / AP

"And having spent time with him and spoken to him in real detail, and not just him but his family, and the evidence and the more I talk to him, I do believe that also it is a tragic accident."

Watch a live stream of the Pistorius verdict here:

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- UK Independent