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Oscar Pistorius 'has no money' says lawyer Barry Roux | Oscar Pistorius 'has no money' says lawyer Barry Roux |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The sentencing hearing of Oscar Pistorius has heard that the South African athlete has no money left, as both sides' final arguments were made. | |
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 the sentence on Tuesday. | |
Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail. The prosecution said the minimum sentence it required was 10 years. | |
Pistorius' defence team has argued for him to be given community service and house arrest, a suggestion the prosecution said would be "shockingly disproportionate". | |
Both defence and prosecution lawyers finished presenting their final arguments before the court was adjourned. | |
The high-profile trial, which has captured public attention in South Africa and beyond, began in March. | |
'Broke and broken' | 'Broke and broken' |
Pistorius sobbed as defence lawyer Barry Roux said that the athlete no longer had any money after the trial, which has lasted more than seven months. | |
"He is not only broke but he is broken," he said. | "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. | "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 lawyer asked Judge Masipa to consider the South African principle of "ubuntu", roughly translated as kindness towards others, in her sentencing. |
He also claimed that Pistorius would be unsafe in prison, a claim denied by the prisons chief on Thursday. | |
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said that the minimum sentence "society would be happy with" would be 10 years in prison. | |
"I could have started at 15 and hoped that the court will suspend five, my Lady , but this is a serious matter," he said. | |
He also repeated criticism of a payment offer by Pistorius to the Steenkamp family. | |
"I cannot but think this is an attempt to influence," he said. | |
Reeva Steenkamp's family rejected a large lump sum offered by Pistorius. | |
However, they did accept smaller monthly support payments. They have since promised to repay the cash and not pursue a civil case. | |
Mr Nel went on to criticise the use of Pistorius' disability in arguments for a shorter sentence. | |
"I find it disturbing that a person who fought to compete with able-bodied athletes now shamelessly uses disability in mitigation," he said. | |
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. |