The Twitterati's verdict

Several Twitter users have blasted Judge Thokozile Masipa's verdict in the Oscar Pistorius trial.

Though she has yet to read her verdict in full, she has found the Paralympian not guilty of premeditated murder.

Some people hailed her as "thorough" and "astute" early yesterday morning, but others said she had "no balls".

One user, @zanytheone, posted a picture of youths with axes and assegais, with a caption: "Outside Masipa's house tonight. #OscarTrial. 'We just wanna clear a few things'."

All this even though Judge Masipa, 66, has vast legal experience. She was appointed to the bench of the High Court about 16 years ago . Early in reading her verdict, Masipa described Pistorius as an evasive and unreliable witness. She said: "He seemed more worried by the impact that the answers might cause rather than the questions asked.

"Often a question requiring a straightforward answer turned into a debate. He often blamed his legal team for various oversights."

When she found him innocent of premeditated murder, the tweets came in thick and fast.

@ForksEye wrote: "Reeva found guilty of running into Oscar's bullets. Judge Masipa be like 'she shoulda known better'."

@joangvs wrote: "Judge Masipa is using the 'reasonable man' test, I think we need a 'reasonable judge' test.

Cassandra Gudlhuza said: "The lesson here is don't stay in weird relationships because even the law won't have your back. Take ownership of your own life."

@MaryTylerMog wrote: "Beating a woman unconscious is a career setback, rape is a mistake, and shooting your girlfriend is an oopsy-daisy. Good job, humanity."

She was probably referring to US football star Ray Rice, who has been accused of dragging his unconscious fiancee from a lift after a fight, and Indian politician Mulayam Singh Yadav's statement at a rally that ". rape accused should not be hanged; men make mistakes".

It's not over yet

WHAT OSCAR FACES

• Should Oscar Pistorius be found guilty of culpable homicide, the sentence is entirely within Judge Masipa's discretion because no minimum sentence is prescribed.
• Should Pistorius be found guilty of any of the firearms and ammunition possession charges, Masipa may sentence him, according to the Firearms Control Act, to a fine or imprisonment. The maximum prison terms she may impose, according to the act, are five years for each of the two charges of discharging a firearm in a public place and 15 years for the charge of possessing ammunition without a licence.

WHAT OSCAR ESCAPED

• If Pistorius had been found guilty of murder with premeditation, he was likely to have been sentenced to life in prison.
• The prescribed minimum sentence for murder with no premeditation and in the case of a first offender is 15 years in prison.

Marzanne van den Berg