Oscar Pistorius gets 6-year jail term for murder
Oscar Pistorius has been be sentenced to six years in prison for the 2013 homicide of sweetheart Reeva Steenkamp.
Pistorius, who guaranteed he thought Ms Steenkamp was an interloper when he shot her dead at his home in 2013, was initially sentenced to five years in jail in October 2014 and consequently discharged on house arrest 12 months after the fact.
However, his initial conviction of culpable homicide for killing the model was upgraded to murder last December by South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal.
In his closing argument on Wednesday, June 15, state prosecutor Gerrie Nel said Judge Masipa now had no choice but to start with a 15-year sentence, the minimum term for murder in South Africa.
That day the Paralympic sprinter removed his prosthetic legs to hobble around the courtroom at the request of his defence lawyer, Barry Roux.
Be that as it may, Roux said no reason would be served by sending the 29-year-old back to prison, contending he ought to rather perform community service.
Prior to announcing the date of Pistorius' second sentencing, Judge Masipa allowed an application from the prosecution, backed by the Steenkamp family, to publish photos of the deceased's injuries.
Nel had earlier stated: "Isn't it time we now finally let the world see what this accused did with four black talon rounds through a door."
Roux, meanwhile, highlighted his client's vulnerability when inviting Pistorius to remove his prostheses before making his way across the courtroom.
"I don't want to overplay vulnerability, that's not what I want to do. I don't want to overplay disability," said Roux.
"But the time has come that we must just look with different eyes, at least with unbiased eyes.
"It doesn't mean because he's vulnerable that he can do what he likes. That's not what we say. But when we're entering the field of sentencing, look at that man's conduct. Please let's understand. Who is this man that you must sentence?"
Nel highlighted the devastation shown by Steenkamp's family and said Judge Masipa had a duty to ensure: "The court will never be lenient on any crime that caused that grief."
Post a Comment