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| Pistorius sentencing: Steenkamp's family seeks jail term | Pistorius sentencing: Steenkamp's family seeks jail term |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| South African athlete Oscar Pistorius should be given "sufficient punishment" for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, her cousin has told the sentencing hearing in Pretoria. | South African athlete Oscar Pistorius should be given "sufficient punishment" for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, her cousin has told the sentencing hearing in Pretoria. |
| Kim Martin said Pistorius, 27, "needs to pay for what he has done". | Kim Martin said Pistorius, 27, "needs to pay for what he has done". |
| He was convicted of culpable homicide last month but cleared of murder and faces up to 15 years in jail, but the judge may suspend it or impose a fine. | He was convicted of culpable homicide last month but cleared of murder and faces up to 15 years in jail, but the judge may suspend it or impose a fine. |
| Prisons chief Moleko Modise later said the athlete would be safe in prison. | |
| He was responding to a defence witness who said the disabled athlete would be "broken" by prison, with his lawyers saying he should instead serve house arrest and community service for the killing. | |
| Judge Thokozile Masipa has adjourned the sentencing hearing until Friday morning. | |
| The BBC's Andrew Harding in Pretoria says it appears that the sentence itself will be delivered on Tuesday. | |
| 'Not seeking revenge' | 'Not seeking revenge' |
| Ms Martin - the prosecution's first sentencing witness - said on Thursday that she was fearful of Pistorius. | Ms Martin - the prosecution's first sentencing witness - said on Thursday that she was fearful of Pistorius. |
| "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. | "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". | 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". |
| Moleko Modise, the Acting National Commissioner for Correctional Services, was later called to defend the reputation of South African prisons, which he said "can cope" with disabled prisoners like Pistorius. | Moleko Modise, the Acting National Commissioner for Correctional Services, was later called to defend the reputation of South African prisons, which he said "can cope" with disabled prisoners like Pistorius. |
| He said that a health assessment was conducted on all inmates "within six hours of admission", and a complete assessment would be completed within 21 days to consider the "security classification" and "social and psychological needs" of the prisoner. | He said that a health assessment was conducted on all inmates "within six hours of admission", and a complete assessment would be completed within 21 days to consider the "security classification" and "social and psychological needs" of the prisoner. |
| Under cross-examination from defence lawyer Barry Roux, Mr Modise said he thought Pistorius should be placed in the hospital wing of a prison, not the regular section. | Under cross-examination from defence lawyer Barry Roux, Mr Modise said he thought Pistorius should be placed in the hospital wing of a prison, not the regular section. |
| Mr Roux cited reports of undiagnosed tuberculosis in South African prisons, as well as rising numbers of incidents of assault and torture in the past year. | Mr Roux cited reports of undiagnosed tuberculosis in South African prisons, as well as rising numbers of incidents of assault and torture in the past year. |
| Under questioning, Mr Modise said there was one resident doctor for about 7,000 inmates at the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria. | Under questioning, Mr Modise said there was one resident doctor for about 7,000 inmates at the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria. |
| Mr Roux also said several newspapers had reported threats made by prisoners against Pistorius. However, Mr Modise said he was not aware of any threats being made against Pistorius. | Mr Roux also said several newspapers had reported threats made by prisoners against Pistorius. However, Mr Modise said he was not aware of any threats being made against Pistorius. |
| Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has said he will call three or four witnesses in all. | |
| 'Pistorius vulnerable' | 'Pistorius vulnerable' |
| Earlier in the week, social worker Annette Vergeer 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. | Earlier in the week, social worker Annette Vergeer 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, fearing there was an intruder in the house. | The Paralympic sprinter denied murdering Ms Steenkamp after a row on Valentine's Day last year, saying he shot her by mistake, fearing there was an intruder in the house. |
| 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 |