Oscar Pistorius set to learn sentence for Reeva Steenkamp murder
Oscar Pistorius given six years for Reeva Steenkamp murder
(35 minutes later)
South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius is due to be sentenced for the murder of his girlfriend in 2013.
South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to six years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.
Pistorius, 29, could face 15 years in prison after a court last December convicted him of murder.
The verdict comes after his initial five-year conviction for manslaughter was changed to murder last December on appeal.
The ruling came after the state appealed against a manslaughter verdict, for which Pistorius has served nine months of a five-year sentence.
He was taken immediately to jail. Both the prosecution and defence can appeal.
Pistorius shot Reeva Steenkamp four times through a locked toilet door in February 2013.
Pistorius, 29, shot Reeva Steenkamp four times through a locked toilet door in February 2013.
Pistorius is a six-time Paralympic gold medallist whose legs were amputated below the knee as a baby. He made history by becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics, in 2012 in London, running on prosthetic "blades".
He admitted shooting her, but said he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder and acted out of fear.
Walking on stumps
In an hour-long session, Judge Thokozile Masipa said mitigating circumstances, such as rehabilitation and remorse, outweighed aggravating factors for deviating from the prescribed 15-year sentence for murder.
At the court session in Pretoria on Wednesday, Pistorius faces the prospect of many more years behind bars.
Dressed in a dark suit, Pistorius listened to the judge mostly with his head down.
Murder carries a 15-year minimum jail term in South Africa. Judge Thokozile Masipa will have to consider whether there are compelling reasons for deviating from the prescribed sentence.
Ms Steenkamp's parents, Barry and June, sat on the other side of the courtroom, which was packed with journalists and observers.
However, the sentence may not bring an end to the drawn-out case as both the prosecution and defence have the right to appeal.
Pistorius has already served one year in jail.
Last month during a dramatic pre-sentencing hearing, the double amputee was asked by his own defence team to remove his prosthetic legs and walk around the courtroom.
The six-time Paralympic gold medallist made history by becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics, in 2012 in London, running on prosthetic "blades".
His unsteady gait sought to remind the judge of his vulnerability, which could be a mitigating factor.
He had his legs amputated below the knee as a baby.
The judge may also take into consideration his sense of remorse, the BBC's Karen Allen in Pretoria reports.
Rise and fall of Oscar Pistorius
However, the athlete's critics have cast doubt on this, our correspondent adds.
They argue that a TV interview with Pistorius broadcast just two weeks ago is an aggravating factor. They claim it showed poor judgement and was an insult to the court and Reeva Steenkamp's grieving family.
