Jacques Kallis

Calcutta: Jacques Kallis, among the most iconic of South Africa’s cricketers, has termed as “strange” judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa’s ruling on September 11 which cleared Oscar Pistorius of the charge of premeditated murder of Reeva Steenkamp, his girlfriend at the time of her killing.

Reeva was shot multiple times in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013.

“To be honest, I don’t know the justice system that well, but I thought it (the ruling) was strange... To me, what Pistorius did was certainly wrong. I’m sure he will be punished,” Kallis told The Telegraph.

Kallis, who has retired from international cricket, is in Hyderabad turning out for the IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, in the CLT20.

Olympic and Paralymic athlete Pistorius has, however, been held guilty of culpable homicide and the sentence will be pronounced on October 13.

A double amputee, Pistorius faces up to 15 years in prison.

Kallis added: “Let’s wait for the sentence that Pistorius gets. I hope that in terms of sentencing (at least), justice is done... Hopefully, our justice system will get it right and make the correct call.”

Going back to Reeva’s killing, Kallis said: “I was shocked when I heard about it... However, not knowing Pistorius personally, I couldn’t draw conclusions. There was a bit of disbelief as well.”

What’s the No.1 lesson from the tragedy?

“The lesson isn’t just for sportspersons, but for everybody... You can’t take the law into your hands and you have to be very careful with the decisions you make,” Kallis, who himself has a spotlessly clean image, pointed out.

Trust Kallis to put the “decisions” bit so well.