Pistorius sentencing
October 13, 2014
It could take up to four days for Judge Thokozile Masipa to decide Pistorius' sentence after she convicted him of culpable homicide, or manslaughter of his girlfriend Steenkamp whom he shot dead on Valentine's Day in 2013.
Both prosecutors and the defense will present legal arguments, with Pistorius' lawyers set to argue for a lenient term as Pistorius is a first-time offender. Prosecutors are likely to cite again his history of negligence with firearms to achieve a longer jail term.
Sentences for culpable homicide in South Africa can range from a fine to as many as 15 years in prison.
Pistorius, a double-amputee Paralympic sprinter who also competed in the 2012 Olympic Games, went on trial on March 3 after he fired four hollow point bullets through a locked toilet door in his upmarket Pretoria home, killing Steenkamp. He said he believed he had been shooting at an intruder. Pistorius could be seen sobbing several times during the trial, which was broadcast live on television.
Masipa's ruling outraged many in South Africa, and some legal experts believe she misinterpreted the definition of non-premeditated murder, saying Pistorius must have known that shooting four times through a locked door could kill a person. Some also questioned whether the justice system was failing the crime-plagued country.
Pistorius is currently out on bail of one million rand ($90,000). He had to sell his house in a gated compound in Pretoria to fund the trial. He has withdrawn from competitive sports, but the International Paralympic Committee has said he would be allowed to compete again in future.
ng/msh (AP, AFP)