Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years for manslaughter of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

 
Oscar Pistorius in court for his sentencing
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Oscar Pistorius was jailed for five years today for shooting dead his model girlfriend — but could be free in just 10 months.

The disgraced Paralympic and Olympic star wiped his eyes as the judge said that a non-custodial sentence for killing Reeva Steenkamp would send the “wrong message to the community”.

But according to his defence team, the double amputee could spend as little as 10 months behind bars in a “hell hole” jail before applying to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

The athlete, dubbed the Blade Runner, was also given a three-year suspended jail term for a separate firearms offence. The dramatic sentencing hearing brought to an end the mammoth seven-month trial of a case which has captured attention around the world since Miss Steenkamp was shot dead at Pistorius’s Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day last year. Her mother June Steenkamp said afterwards she felt a sense of “closure” at the judge’s sentence, but said it “would not magic Reeva back”. Pistorius’s family confirmed there would be no appeal.

It has been a remarkable fall from grace for a man who battled huge odds to overcome disability and become a world-famous athlete with lucrative sponsorship deals. He was driven in an armoured police van straight from the courtroom to the notorious Pretoria Central Prison, where he is expected to spend most of his time on the hospital wing.

Judge Thokozile Masipa said she had to weigh up the interests of Pistorius and the interests of society, and consider the degree of Pistorius’s negligence in deciding how to punish him.

Lawyers spent the past week arguing over what sentence he should receive, with a debate in court about the suitability of South Africa’s prison system to accommodate disabled people.

Oscar Pistorius Trial - In pictures

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Pistorius’s barrister Barry Roux said the athlete should be given three years’ house arrest and “humanity” should form part of the “restorative justice”. However, the judge today said: “Having regard to the circumstances in the matter, I am of the view that a non-custodial sentence would send the wrong message to the community. On the other hand, a long sentence would not be appropriate as it lacks the element of mercy.”

The athlete was found guilty last month of the manslaughter of Ms Steenkamp, 29, after shooting her four times through a locked toilet door.

He was cleared of murder and a lesser charge of second degree murder after insisting it was a tragic accident and he fired “accidentally”, thinking she was an intruder. But Pistorius, who had faced a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail, acted “negligently” when he shot her, the judge ruled.

At the high court in Pretoria Judge Masipa described Ms Steenkamp as “young, vivacious and full of life”, adding: “The loss of life cannot be reversed. Hopefully this judgment on sentence shall provide some sort of closure for the family and all concerned so they can move on with their lives.”

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said the court had “done what the court should do”. He had earlier argued Pistorius should be jailed for at least 10 years, to “pay for what he has done”.

The judge said there were a number of aggravating factors in the case. Pistorius was trained in firearms and knew “there was no room for escape for the person behind the door” and fired “not one but four shots into the toilet door”. But she accepted the runner’s emotional state, saying it appeared he wanted Ms Steenkamp to live. She also accepted his attempts to apologise and said he was a first-time offender. She said she felt unease about a number of witnesses placing “undue” emphasis on Pistorius’s vulnerability as he had demonstrated “excellent coping skills” throughout his life.

She said was “not impressed at all” by defence witness Annette Vergeer, a probation officer who said prison would not be suitable, describing her evidence as “slapdash” and “sketchy, outdated, uninformed, generalised and negatively biased”.

The Steenkamps’ lawyer, Dup de Bruyn, said the sentence would likely be served as “three years’ correctional supervision and two years’ direct imprisonment”. Pistorius’s legal team said he could serve just one-sixth of the term. As Pistorius was jailed, his sister Aimee looked distressed but there was little other reaction from the family as the athlete was led down stairs to the cells.

The National Prosecuting Authority, which has two weeks to decide whether to appeal, suggested it would be content to draw a line under the matter. A spokesman said: “We have stated that we were disappointed with the judgment but we take solace in the fact that Pistorius will serve time in jail.”

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