Oscar Pistorius: sentenced to six years in prison

A South African judge sentenced double amputee Olympian, Oscar Pistorius to six years jail term on Wednesday for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine Day, 2013.

The six years sentence is less than the prescribed minimum punishment, but the Judge cited mitigating circumstances.

Reports indicate that Pistorius who was initially convicted of culpable homicide for killing the law graduate and model on Valentine’s Day 2013 showed no emotion as the sentence was read out in court.

An appeals court had reversed the earlier sentence and declared Pistorius guilty of the more serious charge of murder in 2015.

South Africa’s highest court later dismissed an appeal of that conviction, paving the way for Wednesday’s sentencing.

In her lengthy judgment on Wednesday,  Judge Thokozile Masipa recapped the runner’s family history and recapping his psychological assessments.

“”It is my view that it must be one of the most difficult things for any accused to have to face the victims of his crime and to apologize””

Masipa acknowledged the “unprecedented” interest in the case but stressed that she could not base her sentencing on public opinion.

She cited “a number of aggravating factors” in the case — including that Pistorius fired “not one but four” shots into the bathroom knowing there was someone inside.

However, she disagreed with the notion that Pistorius had failed to show remorse by noting that he had tried to apologize to the Steenkamp family.

“It is my view that it must be one of the most difficult things for any accused to have to face the victims of his crime and to apologize,” Masipa told the court.

She stressed that nothing “can diminish the pain” felt by Steenkamp’s loved ones — who were present in court — but said “substantial and compelling” circumstances justified deviating from the prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years.

Calling Pistorius a “fallen hero” who has “lost his career” and “cannot be at peace” with what he had done, Masipa told the court a long prison term would “not serve justice in this matter.”

She pointed to the 12 months he already had served, his status as a first-time offender and good prospects for rehabilitation before she asked Pistorius to stand.

Then Masipa delivered her sentence — six years in prison — and the sprinter was almost immediately taken away by authorities of the court.

There was no immediate response to the sentencing from the Steenkamp family or attorneys for Pistorius.

Lawyers for Pistorius had pleaded for leniency. Last month the athlete’s defense team had Pistorius remove his prostheses and hobble on his stumps in front of the judge in an attempt to show he is vulnerable.

The athlete known as “Blade Runner” has been living under house arrest before he was sentenced on Wednesday.

With reports from NBC