D-day looms for Pistorius over killing of lover
Paralympian Oscar Pistorius reacts during his sentencing hearing at the Pretoria High Court on October 16, 2014. AFP PHOTO | ALON SKUY
What you need to know:
- Acquitted of murder, Pistorius was found guilty last month of culpable homicide.
- Pistorius is a double-amputee athlete who made history by becoming the first Paralympian to compete against able-bodied athletes at the 2012 London Olympics.
PRETORIA
South Africa's fallen star Oscar Pistorius could be jailed for 10 years or return to serve house arrest Tuesday when he will be sentenced for killing model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
In her decision, Judge Thokozile Masipa has to balance the threat the Paralympic gold medallist poses to society against his likelihood of rehabilitation and eventual re-introduction to public life.
Acquitted of murder, Pistorius was found guilty last month of culpable homicide, a conviction whose penalty — which ranges from a fine to 15 years behind bars — is at the sole discretion of the judge.
Last week Pistorius's lawyers argued that the 27-year-old should be sentenced to three years' correctional supervision, which is also known as house arrest.
He would then do 16 hours of community service a month, suggested the defence.
South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius (centre) arrives at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria for his sentencing hearing on October 17, 2014. AFP PHOTO | MUJAHID SAFODIEN
In an eloquent closing argument, defence lawyer Barry Roux said Pistorius is an ideal candidate for a non-custodial sentence given his remorse, his status as a first-time offender and the fact he would be "vulnerable" in South Africa's notoriously brutal jails as a result of his disability.
Pistorius is a double-amputee athlete who made history by becoming the first Paralympian to compete against able-bodied athletes at the 2012 London Olympics.
VALENTINE'S DAY
Roux said Pistorius is a "broken man" who has "genuine remorse" after shooting Steenkamp four times through a locked toilet door early Valentine's Day morning last year.
As his lawyer chronicled how Pistorius has lost his friends and fortune, the sprinter uncontrollably wept in the dock, wiping tears off his face with a handkerchief.
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel attacked the defence claim that Pistorius is repentant, claiming he offered "blood money" to Steenkamp's parents to reduce his likelihood of going to jail.
In South Africa, where a 24-hour news channel is dedicated to the athlete's court proceedings and the top-selling book in stores is about Pistorius, Nel warned that Judge Masipa's sentencing will be a litmus test of the strength of the country's justice system.
Highlighting Pistorius's gross recklessness, Nel said the only appropriate sentence for the athlete was incarceration.
"The minimum term that society would be happy with would be a 10-year minimum imprisonment sentence," said Nel.
