Athlete Oscar Pistorious has been sentenced for five years by the Pretoria High Court. Oscar Pistorious has been charged for culpable homicide. The 28 year old athlete suffering from disability was charged for his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp’s murder which he did not commit intentionally but fatally.
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He was earlier cleared of the murder charges when he informed that he mistakenly took Reeva as an intruder when she entered his house before attacking her. However, he agreed that he had shot her. The trial that began on 3rd March 2014 has finally come to a conclusion.
Reeva Steenkamp’s family said they were satisfied by this punishment term and called it a right sentence. Meanwhile, Pistorious’ family has confirmed that they won’t appeal the sentence. The Nation’s Prosecuting Authority has not decided whether to appeal against Pistorious’ conviction for culpable homicide.
The Independent reported that in her sentencing, Judge Masipa ruled a non-custodial sentence would send the wrong sentence to the community, but a long sentence would not be appropriate because it would appear to lack mercy.
The prosecution sought a jail term of 10 years for Mr. Pistorious but his defence then appealed that he is placed under house arrest for three years and perform community service.
USA Today reported that Pistorius’ brother and sister, Carl and Aimee, gave interviews to a South African television station on the eve of the sentencing, describing what they said was a difficult and emotional time in the more than a year-and-a-half since their brother killed Steenkamp.
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