Pistorius' 'not guilty of murder' verdict sparks outrage on Twitter

'Speechless. Rest in peace, Reeva, sorry there is no justice and no closure for your family', a user tweeted

Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius being cleared of murder by the judge in his trial on Thursday left many people in shock and they took to social networking sites to voice their disappointment for the same.

A shocked Twitter user posted that Pistorius has been found 'not guilty?' adding that he killed his girlfriend and questioned if this was a sick joke.

Another user tweeted that he couldn't believe Pistorius has been found not guilty of murder, adding that he intended to kill his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, don't care what anyone says, Sport24 reported.

During the first half of her judgment on Thursday, Judge Thokozile Masipa found that Pistorius was not guilty of murder but could still be found guilty of culpable homicide.

The Judge said in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria that the accused therefore cannot be found guilty of murder, legal intent, and added that that however is not the end of the matter as culpable homicide is a competent verdict.

The judge adjourned judgment early on Thursday before making a finding on whether the athlete was guilty of culpable homicide. Judgment is expected to continue on Friday.

Pistorius said that he thought an intruder was behind the door of the toilet in his Pretoria home when he shot through it. He fired four times, killing Steenkamp on 14 February 2013 and the State argued that the murder was premeditated.

Pistorius pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, and to three firearm-related charges. Following Masipa's finding on murder, some people on Twitter expressed sympathy with the Steenkamp family.

A user tweeted 'Speechless. Rest in peace, Reeva, sorry there is no justice and no closure for your family'.

Another user posted that if he feels completely depressed about Pistorius' judgment, he cannot imagine how Steenkamp's parents must feel.

Yet another user posted that this should have been about justice for Steenkamp's death and not excuses for OP supreme domestic violence, and added 'bad decision so far' to his tweet.

A few Twitter users cracked jokes about the finding that Pistorius was acquitted of murder, with one user posting what does England and Pistorius have in common, adding that looks like both would get away Scot free.

Another user tweeted that the Pope has apparently called for Pistorius' lawyer to be named a saint, as he has officially made a crippled man walk.