Oscar Pistorius sentencing: Athlete 'a broken man who has lost everything'

 
Oscar Pistorius's sentencing is set to last up to three days
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Oscar Pistorius is a “broken man who has lost everything”, his sentencing hearing was told today.

The Olympic and Paralympic athlete last month was found guilty of the manslaughter of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp after shooting her four times through a locked toilet door on Valentine’s Day last year.

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.

Today he was back in court for sentencing which is expected to last a week before judge Thokozile Masipa decides what punishment to give the double-amputee.

Speaking in support of the athlete, his therapist Dr Lore Hartzenberg said for Pistorius, Ms Steenkamp was “the one” and he now feels “utterly worthless”.

“In his heart and mind Ms Steenkamp was ‘the one’,” she said. “That is what he said to me.

“He said he wanted to share everything in his life with her.”

The expert has been holding grief counselling therapy and trauma therapy with the runner for the past 18 months, who would need “intensive and ongoing psychotherapy”.

Joel Maringa, a social worker, said the correctional services department recommended Pistorius should spend three years under supervised house arrest during which he could only move with prior arrangement with authorities.

The sprinter would have to attend programmes on handling emotions, firearms and refrain from drinking during the period of his supervision.

“The accused appears to be a cooperative person, the accused’s behaviour in general is socially acceptable,” Mr Maringa told the court.

The social worker said Pistorius was considered to be “still of value to the community” and added, “he should not be destroyed” as a result of his actions.

In cross-examination, Mr Nel dismissed the recommendation of the authorities as “shockingly inappropriate” and invited Mr Maringa to consider how the parents of the runner’s victim would feel if he was not punished for killing their child.

Meanwhile it emerged Judge Masipa has been given round the clock protection amid death threats and widespread condemnation of her decision to clear Pistorius of murder.

She was being flanked by armed police officers in court today while a security scanner has been set up at the entrance to the building.

Pistorius faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail for culpable homicide. But it is at the discretion of the judge, who does not have to send him to prison and may choose a lesser punishment, such as house arrest, or a suspended jail term and a fine, because of his lack of previous criminal convictions.

The sentencing continues.

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