Dein erstes Forum » Steenkamps family, including her mothe

The Free State Cheetahs and Blue Bulls took contrasting routes to first appearances in the Currie Cup final for seven years. Cheetahs, who topped the regular season standings by winning all eight games, thrashed title-holders Golden Lions 56-17 in Bloemfontein, with Sergeal Petersen scoring a hat-trick.In contrast, Ivan van Zyl scored with two minutes remaining in Pretoria to earn the Bulls a 36-30 victory over Western Province in the other semi-final after a thriller featuring flawless goal-kicking. Bulls defeated Cheetahs in the 2009 final, but finishing higher on the log means the Bloemfontein outfit enjoy home advantage next Saturday, and will start as slight favourites.Free State Cheetahs 56-17 Golden LionsA mix of clinical finishing and aggressive defending by Cheetahs and the sin-binning of Lion Cyle Brink allowed the hosts to build a 26-0 half-time lead at Free State Stadium.That advantage stretched to 33 points before Lions got on the scoreboard with a line-out leading to an opportunity for substitute Sylvian Mahuza to score.However, there was no dramatic comeback from the Johannesburg outfit, even though Cheetahs were twice reduced to 14 men when Ryno Benjamin and Paul Schoeman received yellow cards.The home side scored three more tries through Benjamin, Clayton Blommetjies and Petersen to win by a comfortable margin. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. A neck injury that forced Lions prop Julian Redelinghuys off the field will be a concern for Springboks coach Allister Coetzee ahead of a four-match tour to England, Italy and Wales during November.Blue Bulls 36-30 Western ProvinceProvince came to Loftus Versfeld stadium seeking a hat-trick of semi-final victories over the Bulls, having beaten them by five and eight points in the past two seasons.After the two most successful Currie Cup teams, with 56 titles between them, scored a converted try each, Bulls Tian Schoeman slotted three penalties to create a nine-point gap.That was trimmed to a 16-10 lead by half-time after rival No 10 Robert du Preez kicked a penalty.Province led three times in the second half and Bulls twice, before Van Zyl struck the crucial blow. When a Bulls surge was held up just short of the try-line, Van Zyl gained possession and evaded a tackle by fellow substitute Scott van Breda to score.Schoeman converted from near the touchline to complete a perfect goal-kicking performance with eight consecutive successes from the tee.He also stretched his lead over Curwin Bosch of Sharks to 31 points in the race to finish leading scorer in the Currie Cup this season.Du Preez was an equally impressive goal-kicker, slotting his six attempts between the posts.You can watch Liverpool v Man Utd, plus Englands tour of Bangladesh and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy six months at half price! Also See: Rugby on Sky Follow @SkySportsRugby Pundits Fixtures and results Lars Eller Jersey .com) - James Harden put the Houston Rockets on his back and willed them to an overtime victory on Thursday. Washington Capitals Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.officialcapitalspro.com/Jarom...als-jersey/.com) - Longtime Senators star Daniel Alfredsson returned to Ottawa on Thursday to officially announce his retirement. Alex Ovechkin Jersey . With newly minted president of hockey operations Trevor Linden looking on from above one day after being handed the keys to the franchise, it was more of the same on Thursday night. Nicklas Backstrom Jersey . - Playing a road game against a division rival raises the intensity for linebacker Clay Matthews. PRETORIA, South Africa -- A South African judge on Friday found Oscar Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide in the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and declared him not guilty of murder. Prosecutors said they were disappointed by the ruling but would decide on whether to appeal only after sentencing. Judge Thokozile Masipa said there was not enough evidence to support the contention that Pistorius knew Steenkamp was behind a locked toilet door in his home when he shot through the door in the predawn hours of Valentines Day last year. Masipa said prosecutors had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Pistorius intended to kill Steenkamp. "Its a big burden off us, off our shoulders," Pistorius uncle, Arnold Pistorius, said. "We always knew the facts of the matter and we never had any doubt in Oscars version of this tragic incident." Pistorius said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he shot her, while the prosecution said he killed her intentionally after an argument. The killing by a national sports hero stunned South Africans, and reactions on the verdict were mixed. "Well I think the verdict is shocking to say the least," said Leonard Gray in Port Elizabeth, Steenkamps home town. "I think there is clear evidence and indications that he committed murder in this case. ... I feel sorry for Reeva Steenkamps family because theyre not going to get any closure because this guy is basically getting away with murder in my opinion." However, Shrina Padayachy, also in Port Elizabeth, called the judges verdict "fair and just because its the prosecution that must prove beyond a reasonable doubt and from what I gather and seen they havent." Free again after the judge extended his bail, the double-amputee Olympian left the courtroom surrounded by police officers. Pistorius must return on Oct. 13 when his sentencing hearing will start, Judge Masipa said. Pistorius didnt comment. The red-robed judge earlier ordered Pistorius, 27, to stand before she delivered the formal verdicts on the multiple counts against him, and said they were unanimous verdicts, meaning she and her two legal assessors agreed on the findings. The conviction of culpable homicide, or negligent killing, can bring a maximum prison sentence of 15 years, although legal experts pointed to five years as a guideline. Some legal analysts said they understood why Pistorius was found not guilty of premeditated murder but were surprised that the runner was not convicted of murder. The prosecution also was troubled by the not guilty verdict for murder. "We believe there is sufficient and credible evidence to secure a conviction" on a murder charge, said Nathi Mncube, spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority. He said, however, that any decision to appeal the judges ruling would come after the case is "concluded" with senteencing.dddddddddddd Unlike many other times during the trial that began on Mar. 3, Pistorius showed no emotion as he stood in his dark suit with his hands crossed in front of him for the judgment. The athlete was hugged by relatives when the judge ordered a recess soon after announcing her verdicts. Arnold Pistorius, the uncle, said the family was "grateful" to Judge Masipa for acquitting Pistorius of murder. "A tragic event like this, theres no victors in this," Arnold Pistorius said in the courtroom, reading from a prepared statement. Judge Masipa said Pistorius sentencing hearing would begin on Oct. 13, when both sides will be able to call witnesses to argue ahead of the judges ruling on if, or for how long, Pistorius is sent to prison for negligently killing Steenkamp. The sentence for a culpable homicide conviction is at the judges discretion, and it can range from a suspended sentence and a fine to up to a maximum of 15 years in prison. After the verdict, Pistorius sat with his sister Aimee on the wooden bench where he has spent most of his six-month murder trial. She put an arm around his shoulders and spoke to him. For the first time in the trial, Pistorius had left the courtroom for an adjournment before his jail was extended by going down the stairs that led to the cells in the courthouse. Thats because Pistorius bail had expired after his conviction and the judge was considering whether to re-grant him bail. Defence lawyer Barry Roux told the judge that Pistorius should stay free on bail until sentencing because he had complied with bail conditions imposed on him after he killed Steenkamp. Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel, however, said Pistorius now had more reason to flee because he had probably hoped for an acquittal during the trial. "Now he knows for a fact that, Ive been convicted of a serious offence and imprisonment is probable," Nel said. Masipa ruled that it was not in the interests of justice to deny Pistorius bail. Members of Steenkamps family, including her mother June and father Barry, were in court to hear the verdict in the 29-year-old models killing. A close friend of Steenkamps cried in court during the verdict. The judge also ruled that the athlete was guilty of unlawfully firing a gun in a public place when a friends pistol he was handling discharged under a table in a restaurant in Johannesburg in early 2013 -- weeks before Steenkamps killing. Pistorius was acquitted on two other weapons charges, including another count of firing a gun in public and a count of illegal possession of ammunition in the Pretoria home where he killed Steenkamp on Feb. 14, 2013. On Friday, armed security officers stood at each of the three entrances to the courtroom, while others stood near the judge as she explained her verdicts from her dais overlooking the court. There were also paramedics in the courtroom. ' ' '