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Pistorius sentencing hearing enters fourth day | Pistorius sentencing hearing enters fourth day |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The sentencing hearing for South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has resumed at a court in Pretoria. | |
The prosecution will continue its case for Pistorius to serve a jail term for shooting dead his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. | The prosecution will continue its case for Pistorius to serve a jail term for shooting dead his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. |
Pistorius, 27, was found guilty of culpable homicide last month, but was cleared of murder. | Pistorius, 27, was found guilty of culpable homicide last month, but was cleared of murder. |
He faces up to 15 years in jail, although the judge may suspend the sentence or impose a fine. | He faces up to 15 years in jail, although the judge may suspend the sentence or impose a fine. |
The defence has argued that Pistorius should serve house arrest and community service for the killing - a suggestion branded as "shockingly inappropriate" by prosecutor Gerrie Nel. | The defence has argued that Pistorius should serve house arrest and community service for the killing - a suggestion branded as "shockingly inappropriate" by prosecutor Gerrie Nel. |
The prosecution insists that Pistorius should go to jail, saying his negligent actions have left a "broken family". | The prosecution insists that Pistorius should go to jail, saying his negligent actions have left a "broken family". |
'Not seeking revenge' | |
At the hearing, Reeva Steenkamp's cousin Kim Martin said Pistorius "needs to pay for what he has done". | |
"My family are not people who are seeking revenge, we just feel that to shoot somebody behind a door that is unarmed, that is harmless, needs sufficient punishment," she said. | |
On Wednesday, Ms Martin recounted her pain at hearing that the 29-year-old South African model had been shot dead, saying her death was "the end of the world". | |
Ms Martin was the prosecution's first sentencing witness. | |
Moleko Modise, the Acting National Commissioner for Correctional Services, is the second. Mr Modise has been called to defend reputation of South African prisons. | |
Mr Modise said South Africa's prisons "can cope" with disabled prisoners like Pistorius. | |
Mr Nel has said he will call three of four witnesses in all. | |
'Pistorius vulnerable' | |
On Wednesday, Mr Nel cross-examined social worker Annette Vergeer. | |
The defence witness had said double-amputee Pistorius should be placed under house arrest rather than sent to prison, because he would be "a lot more vulnerable than the normal man" in jail. | The defence witness had said double-amputee Pistorius should be placed under house arrest rather than sent to prison, because he would be "a lot more vulnerable than the normal man" in jail. |
Mr Nel said her opinion of a sentence of house arrest plus community service "cannot be considered". | Mr Nel said her opinion of a sentence of house arrest plus community service "cannot be considered". |
"If the court sentence is too light, and society loses trust in the court, they will take the law into their own hands," Mr Nel said. | "If the court sentence is too light, and society loses trust in the court, they will take the law into their own hands," Mr Nel said. |
"That's what the court has to guard against." | "That's what the court has to guard against." |
The Paralympic sprinter denied murdering Ms Steenkamp after a row on Valentine's Day last year, saying he shot her by mistake. | The Paralympic sprinter denied murdering Ms Steenkamp after a row on Valentine's Day last year, saying he shot her by mistake. |
Ms Steenkamp, a law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria. | Ms Steenkamp, a law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria. |
Inside Oscar Pistorius's home | Inside Oscar Pistorius's home |
3D animation of the apartment | 3D animation of the apartment |