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Oscar Pistorius gets five years for Reeva Steenkamp death | |
(35 minutes later) | |
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been given five years in jail for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. | |
In court in Pretoria, Judge Thokozile Masipa also gave Pistorius a three-year suspended sentence for a firearms charge. Pistorius has now been taken to the cells. | |
Prosecutors had called for a minimum 10-year term, and the defence argued for community service and house arrest. | |
Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide but cleared of murder. | Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide but cleared of murder. |
'Feeling of unease' | 'Feeling of unease' |
Defence lawyer Barry Roux said his client was expected to serve 10 months in prison, with the rest under house arrest. | |
The BBC's Andrew Harding, in court, says the parents of Reeva Steenkamp, Barry and June, tell him they are happy with the sentence and relieved the case is over. | |
Reacting to the sentence, Dup De Bruyn, a lawyer for the Steenkamp family, told Reuters that "justice was served". | |
Judge Masipa had begun reading the sentence by saying that, although she had been aided by assessors, the decision was hers and hers alone. | |
She said: "Sentencing is about achieving the right balance. Sentencing is not a perfect exercise." | |
She said there must be a balance between retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation. | She said there must be a balance between retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation. |
The judge then summarised the evidence brought before the trial. | |
She described the evidence of defence witness and social worker Annette Vergeer as "slapdash and disappointing". | She described the evidence of defence witness and social worker Annette Vergeer as "slapdash and disappointing". |
Ms Vergeer had argued Pistorius would be "a lot more vulnerable than the normal man" in jail. | Ms Vergeer had argued Pistorius would be "a lot more vulnerable than the normal man" in jail. |
But Judge Masipa said she was sure prisons were equipped to cater for the requirements of a special needs inmate. | But Judge Masipa said she was sure prisons were equipped to cater for the requirements of a special needs inmate. |
She also said she had a "feeling of unease" at what she called an overemphasis on the athlete's vulnerability. | She also said she had a "feeling of unease" at what she called an overemphasis on the athlete's vulnerability. |
However, she said Pistorius had made an "enormous contribution to society", in his charity work and in changing the public perception of disability. | However, she said Pistorius had made an "enormous contribution to society", in his charity work and in changing the public perception of disability. |
The judge then read out a quote from previous legal opinion, saying that if sentences were too lenient, the administration of justice may fall into disrepute. | The judge then read out a quote from previous legal opinion, saying that if sentences were too lenient, the administration of justice may fall into disrepute. |
She said she found the suggestions of sentences made by defence witnesses "not appropriate". | She said she found the suggestions of sentences made by defence witnesses "not appropriate". |
A non-custodial sentence would "send the wrong message to the community", she said. | |
The three-year suspended term was for unlawfully firing a gun in a restaurant, in a separate incident before the Steenkamp killing. | |
Appeals | Appeals |
Pistorius, 27, an amputee sprinter who became the first athlete to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, killed Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year. | Pistorius, 27, an amputee sprinter who became the first athlete to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, killed Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year. |
He says he shot her by mistake, fearing there was an intruder in his house in the capital, Pretoria. | He says he shot her by mistake, fearing there was an intruder in his house in the capital, Pretoria. |
Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, reality TV star and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets fired by Pistorius through a toilet door. | Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, reality TV star and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets fired by Pistorius through a toilet door. |
Last month, Judge Masipa cleared Pistorius of murder, but convicted him of culpable homicide, saying he had been negligent. | Last month, Judge Masipa cleared Pistorius of murder, but convicted him of culpable homicide, saying he had been negligent. |
The high-profile, seven-month trial has captured public attention in South Africa and beyond. | The high-profile, seven-month trial has captured public attention in South Africa and beyond. |
There was no legal limit on the length of a jail term, but experts say the typical maximum sentence for culpable homicide is around 15 years. | |
However, despite the sentencing being announced, the case may not be over. | |
Both the prosecution and the defence have the right to appeal against the sentence. | |
Inside Oscar Pistorius's home | Inside Oscar Pistorius's home |
3D animation of the apartment | 3D animation of the apartment |