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| Oscar Pistorius: Sentencing hearing begins in murder case | Oscar Pistorius: Sentencing hearing begins in murder case |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A sentencing hearing for South African athlete Oscar Pistorius, who murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, has started in Pretoria. | A sentencing hearing for South African athlete Oscar Pistorius, who murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, has started in Pretoria. |
| He faces a jail term of at least 15 years, but his sentence can be reduced due to time already spent in prison and mitigating factors. | He faces a jail term of at least 15 years, but his sentence can be reduced due to time already spent in prison and mitigating factors. |
| The hearing is expected to last all week with a sentence by Friday. | The hearing is expected to last all week with a sentence by Friday. |
| Pistorius, 29, killed Ms Steenkamp in February 2013 after firing four times through a locked toilet door. | Pistorius, 29, killed Ms Steenkamp in February 2013 after firing four times through a locked toilet door. |
| The athlete has always maintained he believed he was shooting at an intruder. | The athlete has always maintained he believed he was shooting at an intruder. |
| Updates from the hearing and other African news stories | |
| Pistorius, a fallen idol | Pistorius, a fallen idol |
| The trial: 10 key moments | The trial: 10 key moments |
| Pistorius was initially sentenced to five years for manslaughter, but the conviction was upgraded to murder in December following an appeal by the prosecution. | |
| South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that the lower court did not correctly apply the rule of dolus eventualis - whether Pistorius knew that a death would be a likely result of his actions. | |
| The panel of judges said that it was irrelevant who he thought was behind the door. | |
| Original trial judge Thokozile Masipa will hear arguments from both prosecution and defence this week. The Paralympic athlete may testify. | Original trial judge Thokozile Masipa will hear arguments from both prosecution and defence this week. The Paralympic athlete may testify. |
| Reeva Steenkamp's father, Barry, who has been absent throughout the case due to poor health, may also appear in court. | Reeva Steenkamp's father, Barry, who has been absent throughout the case due to poor health, may also appear in court. |
| Experts say a custodial sentence seems almost unavoidable but factors such as his mental fragility, disability and good behaviour might lead to a reduced jail term. | Experts say a custodial sentence seems almost unavoidable but factors such as his mental fragility, disability and good behaviour might lead to a reduced jail term. |
| He was released from prison last October after almost a year in jail and allowed to serve out the remainder of his initial sentence under house arrest on his uncle's property in Pretoria. | He was released from prison last October after almost a year in jail and allowed to serve out the remainder of his initial sentence under house arrest on his uncle's property in Pretoria. |
| The South African made history by becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics, in London in 2012. | The South African made history by becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics, in London in 2012. |
| He competed in the 400m, wearing carbon-fibre blades to run against able-bodied athletes. | He competed in the 400m, wearing carbon-fibre blades to run against able-bodied athletes. |