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Oscar Pistorius 'has no money' says lawyer Barry Roux | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The sentencing hearing of Oscar Pistorius has heard that the athlete has no money left, as the closing legal arguments are presented. | |
Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide last month after shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year, but was cleared of murder. | Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide last month after shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year, but was cleared of murder. |
Judge Thokozile Masipa is expected to deliver her sentence on Tuesday. | |
He faces up to 15 years in jail, but the judge may choose a suspended sentence or impose a fine instead. | He faces up to 15 years in jail, but the judge may choose a suspended sentence or impose a fine instead. |
The sentencing hearing, which began on Monday, has seen the prosecution push for the maximum custodial sentence. | The sentencing hearing, which began on Monday, has seen the prosecution push for the maximum custodial sentence. |
Pistorius' defence team has argued for a lesser sentence, such as house arrest, arguing that the athlete would be unsafe in prison, which was denied by the prisons chief on Thursday. | |
"Broke and broken" | |
Pistorius sobbed as defence lawyer Barry Roux said that the athlete no longer had any money after the long trial, which has lasted over seven months. | |
"He is not only broke but he is broken," he said. | |
"He's a first offender. What has happened to this man? He was on the rise," Mr Roux added. | |
The lawyer asked Judge Masipa to consider the South African principle of "ubuntu", roughly translated as kindness towards others, in her sentencing. | |
The prosecution is expected to present its closing argument later on Friday. | |
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 model, reality TV star and 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 model, reality TV star and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria. |