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| Oscar Pistorius given six years for Reeva Steenkamp murder | Oscar Pistorius given six years for Reeva Steenkamp murder |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to six years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp 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. |
| The verdict comes after his initial five-year conviction for manslaughter was changed to murder last December on appeal. | The verdict comes after his initial five-year conviction for manslaughter was changed to murder last December on appeal. |
| He was taken immediately to jail. Both the prosecution and defence can appeal. | He was taken immediately to jail. Both the prosecution and defence can appeal. |
| Pistorius, 29, 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. |
| He admitted shooting her, but said he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder and acted out of fear. | He admitted shooting her, but said he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder and acted out of fear. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Dressed in a dark suit, Pistorius listened to the judge sat, mostly with his head down. | |
| He hugged his sister after the verdict was announced, and was taken to Khosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria. | |
| Ms Steenkamp's parents, Barry and June, sat on the other side of the courtroom, which was packed with journalists and observers. | Ms Steenkamp's parents, Barry and June, sat on the other side of the courtroom, which was packed with journalists and observers. |
| Pistorius has already served one year in jail over his previous conviction. | |
| He is legally obliged to serve half of his new sentence in prison before being eligible for parole. | |
| Ms Steenkamp's parents had previously expressed disappointment with the initial five-year sentence, an opinion shared by many South Africans. Women's rights groups considered it too lenient. | |
| But in her decision, Judge Masipa said her opinion was that "a long term in prison will not serve justice". | |
| "Public opinion may be loud and persistent but it can play no role in the decision of this court," she said | |
| Some rights groups have also said Pistorius, a wealthy white man and international celebrity, has received preferential treatment compared to others without his status or wealth. | |
| 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". | 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". |
| He had his legs amputated below the knee as a baby. | He had his legs amputated below the knee as a baby. |
| Rise and fall of Oscar Pistorius | Rise and fall of Oscar Pistorius |