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| Oscar Pistorius sentence: Society wants 'heavy punishment' handed to athlete | |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Society wants a “heavy punishment” handed to Oscar Pistorius for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, the chief prosecutor in his case has claimed. | Society wants a “heavy punishment” handed to Oscar Pistorius for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, the chief prosecutor in his case has claimed. |
| Gerrie Nel, prosecuting, told the Pretoria Court on the third day of his sentencing hearing that anything less than a jail sentence for the Paralympian athlete would be “shockingly inappropriate”. | Gerrie Nel, prosecuting, told the Pretoria Court on the third day of his sentencing hearing that anything less than a jail sentence for the Paralympian athlete would be “shockingly inappropriate”. |
| Mr Nel made his comments as he continued his lengthy cross examination of probation officer Annette Vergeer, who was called to testify by the defence. | Mr Nel made his comments as he continued his lengthy cross examination of probation officer Annette Vergeer, who was called to testify by the defence. |
| Ms Vergeer recommended Pistorius be placed under house arrest as opposed to serving a prison sentence, saying he could be particularly vulnerable because of his disability and fragile mental state. | Ms Vergeer recommended Pistorius be placed under house arrest as opposed to serving a prison sentence, saying he could be particularly vulnerable because of his disability and fragile mental state. |
| "Our courts and society value human life," Mr Nel told Ms Vergeer, before asking: "Don't you think society wants a heavy punishment?" | "Our courts and society value human life," Mr Nel told Ms Vergeer, before asking: "Don't you think society wants a heavy punishment?" |
| According to Sky News, he continued: "You're recommending house arrest... but the accused could be allowed to pursue his athletics, train, find a job and go to work and return to his house." | According to Sky News, he continued: "You're recommending house arrest... but the accused could be allowed to pursue his athletics, train, find a job and go to work and return to his house." |
| He suggested there could be a public backlash against a more lenient sentence, adding: "That this accused be sentenced to three years correctional supervision, with 16 hours a month correctional duties is shockingly inappropriate. It cannot even be considered.” | He suggested there could be a public backlash against a more lenient sentence, adding: "That this accused be sentenced to three years correctional supervision, with 16 hours a month correctional duties is shockingly inappropriate. It cannot even be considered.” |
| Earlier, Ms Steenkamp’s parents addressed revelations from court on Tuesday that Pistorius had been paying them a monthly sum in a statement released through their lawyer. | Earlier, Ms Steenkamp’s parents addressed revelations from court on Tuesday that Pistorius had been paying them a monthly sum in a statement released through their lawyer. |
| Barry and June Steenkamp said they will pay back the estimated £6,000 Pistorius gave them in monthly instalments for nearly two years to help with their living expenses. | Barry and June Steenkamp said they will pay back the estimated £6,000 Pistorius gave them in monthly instalments for nearly two years to help with their living expenses. |
| They said the athlete’s lawyers requested the payments be kept confidential, meaning they were “quite surprised” when it was disclosed in court “without any prior warning”. | They said the athlete’s lawyers requested the payments be kept confidential, meaning they were “quite surprised” when it was disclosed in court “without any prior warning”. |
| But Pistorius' chief defence lawyer Barry Roux said Pistorius gave the parents the money "unconditionally" and didn't want it back. | But Pistorius' chief defence lawyer Barry Roux said Pistorius gave the parents the money "unconditionally" and didn't want it back. |