After months of trial, South African paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to five years in prison for the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The verdict was announced last October 21, (Tuesday). According to BBC News, the athlete ‘showed little reaction to the sentence other than to wipe his eyes before being led away to the cells downstairs’. Aside from the five-year detainment at Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria, Judge Thokozile Masipa also gave Pistorius a three-year suspended sentence for a firearms charge.
“I am of the view that a non-custodial sentence would send a wrong message to the community. On the other hand, a long sentence would not be appropriate either, as it would lack the element of mercy.” she said.
She also remembered Steenkamp, saying, “ Young, vivacious and full of life … a promising young woman who cared deeply for family, who was full of hope for the future, and lived life to the full.”
“The loss of life cannot be reversed. Nothing I do or say today can reverse what happened to the deceased and to her family. Hopefully this sentence shall provide some sort of closure to the family … so they can move on with their lives” Judge Masipa continued.
The Week UK reports that Pistorius may appeal to the verdict but his family mentioned that he did not intend to lodge an appeal and would "embrace" the opportunity to "pay back to society". "I hope Oscar will begin his own healing process" said his uncle, Arnold Pistorius.
Her family is in despair after her death. In an article from Mirror UK, Steenkamp’s cousin, Kim Martin said she was haunted by her last conversation with Reeva when she asked her “Are you happy with Oscar?” to which the model didn’t answer Kim but went pale and said: “We need to talk... I desperately need to talk to you.”
Pistorius shot Steenkamp in his house on Valentine’s Day last year. During his trial he imposed that he mistook her for intruder.
