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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/jun/13/oscar-pistorius-sentencing-murder-reeva-steenkamp
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| Oscar Pistorius to be sentenced for murder of Reeva Steenkamp – live | Oscar Pistorius to be sentenced for murder of Reeva Steenkamp – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 8.45am BST | |
| 08:45 | |
| Reporters in the Pretoria high court say there is an unusually heavy police presence within the courtroom, with the hearing about to begin; one reporter counted 18 officers following Pistorius into the room: | |
| #OscarPistorius SAPS on one side of courtroom. BB pic.twitter.com/M4elmMCLIk | |
| 8.40am BST | |
| 08:40 | |
| Oscar Pistorius has arrived at the court, and was ushered swiftly into the building by police officers past the waiting media. | |
| His defence team, including lead counsel Barry Roux, is already in the courtroom, as is Gerrie Nel, for the state. | |
| #OscarPistorius arrives in court. @ANN7tv pic.twitter.com/tyGhHUckjP | |
| Updated | |
| at 8.41am BST | |
| 8.30am BST | |
| 08:30 | |
| The Steenkamp and Pistorius families are already in the courtroom, though Oscar Pistorius himself is yet to arrive. | |
| Both Barry and June Steenkamp, the parents of Reeva Steenkamp, are present. There have been reports that Barry Steenkamp – who has not previously spoken in court – might appear as a witness for the prosecution to argue for a strong sentence for the man who killed his daughter. | |
| #OscarPistorius The court is packed - family and friends already in court MV pic.twitter.com/6C8tTM9P2D | |
| Aimee Pistorius and Carl Pistorius, the siblings of Oscar Pistorius, are also in attendance, along with wider family, including Arnold Pistorius, his uncle, at whose home the disgraced athlete has been living under house arrest since October 2015. | |
| His estranged father Henke Pistorius is also in court. | |
| 8.20am BST | 8.20am BST |
| 08:20 | 08:20 |
| How did we get here, more than three years after Pistorius shot dead Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home, firing four bullets through a locked toilet cubicle door? | How did we get here, more than three years after Pistorius shot dead Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home, firing four bullets through a locked toilet cubicle door? |
| In 2014, the former athlete was found guilty by Judge Masipa – after a trial lasting many months – of culpable homicide, but cleared of murder. Masipa found that while Pistorius had acted recklessly, he had not intended to kill Steenkamp. | In 2014, the former athlete was found guilty by Judge Masipa – after a trial lasting many months – of culpable homicide, but cleared of murder. Masipa found that while Pistorius had acted recklessly, he had not intended to kill Steenkamp. |
| But an appeal court last December overturned that ruling, finding him guilty of murder. The five supreme court judges ruled unanimously: | But an appeal court last December overturned that ruling, finding him guilty of murder. The five supreme court judges ruled unanimously: |
| As a result of the errors of law … and on a proper appraisal of the facts, he ought to have been convicted not of culpable homicide on that count but of murder. | As a result of the errors of law … and on a proper appraisal of the facts, he ought to have been convicted not of culpable homicide on that count but of murder. |
| In the interests of justice the conviction and the sentence imposed in respect thereof must be set aside and the conviction substituted with a conviction of the correct offence. | In the interests of justice the conviction and the sentence imposed in respect thereof must be set aside and the conviction substituted with a conviction of the correct offence. |
| The judges said Masipa had been wrong on several points of law, chief among them her conclusion that Pistorius had not foreseen that his actions could kill somebody (a legal principle known as dolus eventualis). Justice Eric Leach, reading the ruling on behalf of the bench, said: | The judges said Masipa had been wrong on several points of law, chief among them her conclusion that Pistorius had not foreseen that his actions could kill somebody (a legal principle known as dolus eventualis). Justice Eric Leach, reading the ruling on behalf of the bench, said: |
| I have no doubt … the accused must have foreseen and therefore did foresee that whoever was behind that door might die. | I have no doubt … the accused must have foreseen and therefore did foresee that whoever was behind that door might die. |
| This week’s sentencing hearing – officially a continuation of the original trial – takes place once again in front of Masipa, who will decide the fresh sentence. | This week’s sentencing hearing – officially a continuation of the original trial – takes place once again in front of Masipa, who will decide the fresh sentence. |
| 8.08am BST | 8.08am BST |
| 08:08 | 08:08 |
| Opening summary | Opening summary |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| Welcome to live coverage as what looks to be the final stage of the long trial of Oscar Pistorius for the death of Reeva Steenkamp gets underway in Pretoria today. | Welcome to live coverage as what looks to be the final stage of the long trial of Oscar Pistorius for the death of Reeva Steenkamp gets underway in Pretoria today. |
| Pistorius will appear before his original trial judge, Thokozile Masipa, for a sentencing hearing, as his lawyers seek to persuade the court that his circumstances mitigate against the minimum jail term for murder of 15 years. | Pistorius will appear before his original trial judge, Thokozile Masipa, for a sentencing hearing, as his lawyers seek to persuade the court that his circumstances mitigate against the minimum jail term for murder of 15 years. |
| The hearing is expected to take several days, perhaps until Wednesday. The judge will then retire to consider the arguments in mitigation and aggravation of sentence, and could return with her decision as early as Friday – although she could take as long as a week. | The hearing is expected to take several days, perhaps until Wednesday. The judge will then retire to consider the arguments in mitigation and aggravation of sentence, and could return with her decision as early as Friday – although she could take as long as a week. |
| Pistorius has so far served one year inside Kgosi Mampuru II prison, and has spent the months since he was released in October 2015 under house arrest conditions at his uncle’s home. It is expected that his legal team will argue that this should be taken into account when determining any further sentence. | Pistorius has so far served one year inside Kgosi Mampuru II prison, and has spent the months since he was released in October 2015 under house arrest conditions at his uncle’s home. It is expected that his legal team will argue that this should be taken into account when determining any further sentence. |
| It’s possible, though not confirmed, that Pistorius could take the stand himself. | It’s possible, though not confirmed, that Pistorius could take the stand himself. |
| The state is expected to put forward witnesses, with reports this weekend suggesting that Barry Steenkamp, the father of Reeva, could take the stand. It would be his first testimony in court, after ill-health forced him to watch much of the original trial unfold on television. | The state is expected to put forward witnesses, with reports this weekend suggesting that Barry Steenkamp, the father of Reeva, could take the stand. It would be his first testimony in court, after ill-health forced him to watch much of the original trial unfold on television. |
| Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead by Pistorius at his home in the early hours of 13 February 2013. He claimed he had believed her to be an intruder, but an appeal court last year ruled that he had acted with criminal intent and should be found guilty of her murder. | Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead by Pistorius at his home in the early hours of 13 February 2013. He claimed he had believed her to be an intruder, but an appeal court last year ruled that he had acted with criminal intent and should be found guilty of her murder. |
| For legal reasons, comments are not switched on for this live blog at the moment, but do contact me via Twitter @Claire_Phipps with any questions or comments. | |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.22am BST |