Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to five years in prison for culpable homicide in the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, however, thanks to South Africa’s sentencing laws, he may only spend 10 months behind bars.
Earlier this evening, the Sydney Morning Herald reported, via the AAP, that:
The double amputee sprinter was found guilty of culpable homicide last month after Judge Thokozile Masipa acquitted him of the more serious charge of murder over Steenkamp’s death on Valentine’s Day last year.
On the count of culpable homicide, she sentenced him to the maximum term of five years.
On the second charge of violating the firearms act, she sentenced him to three years, wholly suspended.
The sentences will run concurrently.
Pistorius was escorted from the Pretoria High Court to a holding cell following his sentencing, and his lawyers have said that he will not appeal.
A statement on behalf of defense lawyer Barry Roux indicates that it’s likely Pistorius will serve no more than 10 months of his sentence behind bars, before being transferred to house arrest.
The prosecution had asked for a minimum sentence of 10 years.
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother June said that she will never experience closure “unless you can magic Reeva back.”
It is understood that the Pistorius family will be holding a press conference later this evening, local time.
Photo: Charlie Shoemaker via Getty Images
