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Oscar Pistorius to be sentenced for murder of Reeva Steenkamp – live Oscar Pistorius is sentenced for murder of Reeva Steenkamp – live
(35 minutes later)
8.53am BST
08:53
June and Barry Steenkamp are once again hearing in court the details of their daughter’s death.
Masipa recounts evidence that witnesses on the scene in the aftermath of the shooting believed Pistorius’ distress to be genuine.
8.51am BST
08:51
Masipa moves on to the circumstances of the murder. She says it is important to consider these in every case.
Murder is always a very serious crime.
That the accused thought it was an intruder does not make it any less serious.
8.51am BST
08:51
Scholtz “did not fare well under cross-examination”, Masipa says.
He could not back up some of the claims made, about the prison experience or claims that medication was withheld from Pistorius in prison.
But she says she did find Scholtz a truthful witness.
8.50am BST
08:50
The judge says Scholtz’s report argued that Pistorius had suffered from media attention and negative experiences in prison, such as overhearing the rape of an inmate and witnessing his subsequent hanging.
But she says, these were “not supported by anything concrete”. Evidence from a prison employee suggested it was not possible for him to have witnessed this, Masipa says.
8.47am BST
08:47
Masipa recites evidence given during the sentencing hearing that Pistorius has sold all his firearms and does not want to use a gun ever again.
8.46am BST
08:46
Pistorius looks solemn as Masipa outlines his mother’s anxiety around crime, and her death when he was a teenager.
Scholtz’s report, she reads, says Pistorius’ childhood experiences made “him aware of his own and his family’s vulnerability to crime”.
8.43am BST
08:43
The judge now turns to what she calls his “personal circumstances”. It’s essentially a rundown of his family and career history, by now well rehearsed in this courtroom.
She notes that he has no previous convictions.
8.42am BST
08:42
Masipa skips through the evidence given by the two other defence witnesses, who testified to Pistorius’ charity work and his desire to work in future with children.
8.41am BST
08:41
Scholtz found that Pistorius displayed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, and was not well enough to testify in the sentencing proceedings.
(Pistorius did not give evidence in those hearings last month.)
Masipa notes that Scholtz was of the opinion that Pistorius ought to be hospitalised.
8.39am BST
08:39
Among the factors she needs to consider, Masipa says, she must decide whether there is any cause not to impose the 15-year minimum sentence.
She says she has considered all the evidence but will not set it all out in detail now.
She will talk about the evidence given by defence witness Professor Jonathan Scholtz, a clinical psychologist who reported on Pistorius’ mental state.
8.36am BST
08:36
Masipa begins by setting out the process so far: the original finding, the appeal and the decision by the supreme court to overturn the first verdict and substitute one of murder.
It is for this court now to impose the appropriate sentence for murder, she says.
Updated
at 8.36am BST
8.33am BST
08:33
Sentencing begins
Judge Thokozile Masipa is in the courtroom and the hearing is starting.
8.31am BST
08:31
Pistorius will be sentenced today by the same judge who presided over his original trial, Thokozile Masipa.
Having initially found him guilty of culpable homicide – and clearing him of murder – Masipa sentenced Pistorius in September 2014 to five years in prison. He served 10 months in Kgosi Mampuru prison, before being released (in accordance with parole regulations) under house arrest conditions. He has lived at the home of his aunt and uncle, Lois and Arnold Pistorius, ever since.
Although the minimum sentence for murder is 15 years, Masipa does have discretion to cut this, or to suspend part of the sentence.
She could, for example, deduct all or part of the original sentence served.
The defence also argued that she ought to make allowance for Pistorius’ disability – he had both lower limbs amputated as a child – and his other vulnerabilities, including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
8.20am BST
08:20
Oscar Pistorius and his legal team are in the courtroom, along with several members of the Pistorius family.
Barry and June Steenkamp, the parents of Reeva Steenkamp, are also there.
#OscarPistorius hugging family as he waits for proceedings to start.MV pic.twitter.com/1fKOnhb94L
8.14am BST8.14am BST
08:1408:14
The state case: 15 years must be the minimumThe state case: 15 years must be the minimum
She is just as important as the personal circumstances of the accused … She can never walk in court.She is just as important as the personal circumstances of the accused … She can never walk in court.
Forgiveness has more to do with the person forgiving than with the crime.Forgiveness has more to do with the person forgiving than with the crime.
8.07am BST8.07am BST
08:0708:07
The defence case: no more prison timeThe defence case: no more prison time
I don’t want to overplay vulnerability … I don’t want to overplay disability … It doesn’t mean because he’s vulnerable that he can do what he likes. That’s not what we say.I don’t want to overplay vulnerability … I don’t want to overplay disability … It doesn’t mean because he’s vulnerable that he can do what he likes. That’s not what we say.
But when we’re entering the field of sentencing, look at that man’s conduct … Please let’s understand … who is this man that you must sentence?But when we’re entering the field of sentencing, look at that man’s conduct … Please let’s understand … who is this man that you must sentence?
Punishment is not meant to break the defendant … The accused does not fall into the category of offender who should be removed from society.Punishment is not meant to break the defendant … The accused does not fall into the category of offender who should be removed from society.
It was not the man winning gold medals that must be judged … It was a 1.5-metre person, standing on his stumps, three o’clock in the morning when it was dark.It was not the man winning gold medals that must be judged … It was a 1.5-metre person, standing on his stumps, three o’clock in the morning when it was dark.
How must you feel when you fire those shots that you should not have, and it’s your own girlfriend?How must you feel when you fire those shots that you should not have, and it’s your own girlfriend?
No other accused has ever had to endure this level of publicity, misinformation and character assassination.No other accused has ever had to endure this level of publicity, misinformation and character assassination.
7.57am BST7.57am BST
07:5707:57
Opening summaryOpening summary
Claire PhippsClaire Phipps
Today – more than three years after Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead – Oscar Pistorius will be sentenced for her murder.Today – more than three years after Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead – Oscar Pistorius will be sentenced for her murder.
The former athlete could face up to 15 years in prison, after his original conviction for culpable homicide – and subsequent five-year sentence – was overturned on appeal and replaced with a finding that he was guilty of murder.The former athlete could face up to 15 years in prison, after his original conviction for culpable homicide – and subsequent five-year sentence – was overturned on appeal and replaced with a finding that he was guilty of murder.
In a three-day sentencing hearing last month, Judge Thokozile Masipa was told by the defence that “there is no purpose served” by sending Pistorius back to prison. (He previously served 10 months of his original sentence and has lived since September 2015 under house arrest conditions at his uncle’s home in Pretoria.)In a three-day sentencing hearing last month, Judge Thokozile Masipa was told by the defence that “there is no purpose served” by sending Pistorius back to prison. (He previously served 10 months of his original sentence and has lived since September 2015 under house arrest conditions at his uncle’s home in Pretoria.)
But chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued that the judge must start at the minimum sentence of 15 years.But chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued that the judge must start at the minimum sentence of 15 years.
The North Gauteng high court in Pretoria is due to convene shortly. We will have all the developments here.The North Gauteng high court in Pretoria is due to convene shortly. We will have all the developments here.
Comments will not be switched on for the live blog but do feel free to contact me via Twitter @Claire_Phipps with comments and questions.Comments will not be switched on for the live blog but do feel free to contact me via Twitter @Claire_Phipps with comments and questions.