Oscar Pistorius trial: Athlete 'a broken man' ahead of full verdict

The Paralympian is allegedly still ‘dearly in love’ with the murdered model, Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius will learn the verdict of his murder trial on Thursday (Reuters)

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 today (11 September).

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.

Oscar Pistorius trial live

Tomorrow (September 11), Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa will decide his fate.

“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.”

“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.”