Judge: Oscar Pistorius verdict coming Sept. 11

According to a report, the verdict in the murder trial of former Olympian Oscar Pistorius will be rendered on Sept. 11.

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Final arguments closed Tuesday in the case against the paraplegic sprinter, according to the Associated Press.

Judge Thokozile Masipa announced at the end of the five-month long trial that she will give a verdict a little more than a month from now. Pistorius is charged with premeditated murder.

Under South African law, Pistorius could be convicted of a lesser charge of murder or of negligent killing.

South Africa does not have a jury trial system; the judge will make the verdict and hand down the sentence.

Premeditated murder carries a sentence of at least 25 years in jail, with the maximum sentence being life imprisonment. South Africa does not have the death penalty.

Lesser charges would still carry jail sentences that would last for a period of years or Masipa could acquit Pistorius if she believes his defense, which claims he made a tragic error.

The former Olympian pleaded not guilty to murder and three separate firearm charges. His defense attorney, Barry Roux, has already conceded Pistorius’ guilt to one of the firearm charges, negligently firing a gun in a public place.

The prosecution has used that incident, which occurred at a restaurant weeks before the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, to portray Pistorius as a gun-obsessed hothead.

The defense, meanwhile, claims Pistorius is particularly vulnerable and anxious about crime because of his disability.

Steenkamp was killed Feb. 14, 2013. Pistorius claims he thought there was an intruder in his house and fired a gun through the closed door of a toilet cubicle. Prosecutors allege the death was intentional after the couple had an argument.