Oscar verdict called a tragic replay of OJ Simpson trial

Oscar Pistorius's trial "feels just like OJ Simpson's all over again".

The sister of the woman killed by the American football star says the Blade Runner's verdict, 20 years on, is chillingly similar.

Both were cases that captured the world - with millions tuning in to watch the dramatic courtroom events unfold on their television screens. A sports star at the height of his celebrity was accused of killing his partner in a violent frenzy.

Twenty years ago, this was the circus that surrounded OJ Simpson - the American football player turned actor accused of murdering his former wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

On Friday, the scene was replicated in South Africa, as Pistorius stood in the dock in the Pretoria High Court to hear the verdict delivered.

He, like Simpson, was found not guilty of murder despite firing a gun four times as he killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, through a lavatory door, purportedly mistaking her for a night-time intruder.

Simpson was convicted of "wrongful death" in the case of Goldman, and battery in the case of Brown - who had successfully pressed charges against her then-husband in 1989. He was fined $33.5-million (R316-million then), much of which was paid from the profits from a book he wrote, If I Did It: Confessions of a killer.

Pistorius, 27, was found guilty of culpable homicide, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years but can be reduced to community service. His next hearing, for the presentation of arguments in mitigation of sentence, has been set for October 13.

The National Prosecuting Authority said it will wait until after sentencing to decide on whether to appeal.

On Saturday, Denise Brown, Nicole Brown's sister, said she saw many parallels between the two cases.

"It saddens me that, 20 years after Nicole's murder, we are still seeing the same crimes, just different names, over and over again."

She wrote in Time magazine: "My sister was once overheard saying, 'He's going to kill me and get away with it'."

Judge Thokozile Masipa's judgment has been criticised.

Education Minister and ANC Women's League president Angie Motshekga told the BBC that she thought the judgment was "based on technicalities, not on facts". His acquittal was "extremely disappointing", she said, and, as a result, women would not feel protected by the law.

On social media and in radio phone-in programmes, South Africans have expressed fury that Pistorius "bought" his freedom with expensive lawyers, despite the fact that he faces a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Jacqui Mofokeng, another leader of the ANC Women's League, said: "We are very disappointed. It's really disturbing. With this verdict, she [the judge] hanged us."

The International Paralympic Committee said on Friday that it would not block an attempt by the double-amputee to return to competition. Pistorius had not run for the duration of his six-month trial, his agent, Peet van Zyl, said yesterday, and a decision on whether to resume training had yet to be taken.

Sports marketing experts said they were "surprised" that the sporting authorities were discussing his return to competition.

John Taylor, a London sports sponsorship consultant, said the athlete was "irreparably tarnished" and his reputation would never recover.

"Pistorius had core values that brands liked - he overcame adversity and had tenacity," he said. "That's all gone out of the window now. I don't think there is any way back for him."

A return to competitive athletics would boost Pistorius's finances if he could win back sponsorships from companies that dropped him after Steenkamp's killing.

During his trial he told the court that he had been earning R5.6-million a year but his cancelled advertising contract with Nike alone was thought to be worth R16575457 a year.

His legal fees have eaten into his fortune. The trial, first scheduled to last 39 days, dragged on for six months at a cost to Pistorius of R100000 a day.

He has said he had to sell his three homes to fund his defence, including the four-bedroom house in which he killed Steenkamp, sold for R4.4-million in July, and two other houses and a plot.

But his family is exceptionally wealthy. The athlete's father, Henke, and his three uncles are thought to have been involved in 107 companies over the years, in mining, tourism and property.

Pistorius wa s considering meeting Steenkamp's family for the first time. In April, from the dock, he said he had tried to contact June and Barry Steenkamp but sai d: "I don't think they will ever want to meet me."

On Friday, the Steenkamps said they had changed their minds, saying the offer of a meeting "would be there".

Barry Steenkamp told NBC News: "That's not to say that you'll forgive after that - after having that chat. But I'm sure it will help all of us. We hope to talk to Oscar one day."