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Oscar Pistorius sentenced to six years for murder of Reeva Steenkamp – live Oscar Pistorius sentenced to six years for murder of Reeva Steenkamp – live
(35 minutes later)
10.35am BST
10:35
A convoy of police vehicles is now leaving the court house with sirens blaring – including a van presumably carrying Oscar Pistorius to prison, though he was not visible.
10.28am BST
10:28
The instructing attorney for the defence, Andrew Fawcett, has told reporters that the Pistorius team does not intend to appeal the sentence and that they respect Masipa’s decision.
Pistorius will serve the sentence handed down by the court, he says, adding that he will have to serve “between half and two-thirds of the sentence” before he can apply for parole.
But he adds that the defence team will of course “react” if the state decides to appeal the sentence.
Updated
at 10.31am BST
10.18am BST
10:18
Jason Burke
The Guardian’s Africa correspondent writes from Pretoria of the moment those in court heard the six-year sentence handed down to Pistorius:
The 29-year-old former athlete showed little emotion, but looked relieved. His family made no immediate statement.
The sentence was much lower than many had expected. Public prosectors had demanded the mandatory minimum for murder of 15 years. An appeal from Pistorius is considered unlikely, though public prosecutors may decide to challenge the sentence.
However, supporters of the Steenkamps said:
The law has run its course.
Doup De Bruyn, a lawyer who has represented the family, said:
There is nothing [the family] can do about the sentence. Nothing will bring Reeva back. The best thing to do is to maintain a dignified silence.
Pistorius arrived for court today looking anxious but healthier than during the hearings last month. He hugged members of his legal team and his family. The relatives of the former athlete and those of his victim filled a bench along the front of the courtroom.
In an hour-long judgment, Judge Masipa said evidence she had heard convinced her Pistorius was “not a violent person”, was unlikely to reoffend and had showed remorse. The judge said she had to balance the interests of society, the accused and relatives of the victim.
Pistorius, she said, was “a fallen hero, who has lost his career, and been ruined financially. He cannot be at peace.”
She also stressed that a court should not be swayed by public opinion but that punishment must also reflect the seriousness of the offence. It should be “unpleasant, uncomfortable and painful”.
Updated
at 10.20am BST
10.13am BST
10:13
This is the scene outside the North Gauteng high court – at some point Oscar Pistorius will be taken from here to prison.
#OscarPistorius Streets outside High Court in Pretoria in anticipation of OP's departure. Mix of media and public pic.twitter.com/IrOGN5JNSH
10.08am BST
10:08
Carl Pistorius, the brother of Oscar Pistorius, has just tweeted this response to the verdict:
The record has been set straight and justice done. The truth will always prevail. #justice
The Pistorius family is expected to make a statement shortly. It is likely to come via Arnold Pistorius, Oscar Pistorius’ uncle, who tends to speak for the family.
10.00am BST10.00am BST
10:0010:00
Oscar Pistorius hugged his sister Aimee, pictured below, and his brother Carl (in the blue jacket) before he was taken down to the cells after hearing his sentence.Oscar Pistorius hugged his sister Aimee, pictured below, and his brother Carl (in the blue jacket) before he was taken down to the cells after hearing his sentence.
He is expected to be moved directly to prison today.He is expected to be moved directly to prison today.
9.54am BST9.54am BST
09:5409:54
In delivering her decision, Masipa said she had considered both aggravating and mitigating factors, and concluded that the latter outweighed the former.In delivering her decision, Masipa said she had considered both aggravating and mitigating factors, and concluded that the latter outweighed the former.
She listed mitigating factors as:She listed mitigating factors as:
She said the aggravating factors were:She said the aggravating factors were:
9.50am BST9.50am BST
09:5009:50
Reporters in the courtroom say the defence team will not appeal against the sentence (it’s not clear on what grounds it might have been able to do so).Reporters in the courtroom say the defence team will not appeal against the sentence (it’s not clear on what grounds it might have been able to do so).
9.47am BST9.47am BST
09:4709:47
And on that note, some views from South African media:And on that note, some views from South African media:
Remember - he has been sentenced to six years but OP unlikely to serve that full duration. Eligible for parole earlier, good behaviour etc.Remember - he has been sentenced to six years but OP unlikely to serve that full duration. Eligible for parole earlier, good behaviour etc.
#Pistorius Legal experts say OP can be paroled for good behaviour after serving a third of the sentence - that is two years#Pistorius Legal experts say OP can be paroled for good behaviour after serving a third of the sentence - that is two years
9.44am BST9.44am BST
09:4409:44
It is notable that Pistorius’ original sentence, when he was initially found guilty of culpable homicide (the equivalent of manslaughter), was five years.It is notable that Pistorius’ original sentence, when he was initially found guilty of culpable homicide (the equivalent of manslaughter), was five years.
He served 10 months of that in prison before being eligible for parole under house arrest.He served 10 months of that in prison before being eligible for parole under house arrest.
The increase in sentence – bearing in mind the judge spelt out how much more serious a crime murder is – was just one year.The increase in sentence – bearing in mind the judge spelt out how much more serious a crime murder is – was just one year.
It is not clear yet how much of the six-year sentence he will be compelled to serve in prison before he will once again be eligible for parole.It is not clear yet how much of the six-year sentence he will be compelled to serve in prison before he will once again be eligible for parole.
9.41am BST9.41am BST
09:4109:41
Masipa left the courtroom swiftly after delivering the sentence but said she would be available to hear an appeal today if that was required.Masipa left the courtroom swiftly after delivering the sentence but said she would be available to hear an appeal today if that was required.
Previous reports have said that an appeal would not be available to Pistorius, but that it might be possible for the state to argue against a sentence if it thought it was too lenient.Previous reports have said that an appeal would not be available to Pistorius, but that it might be possible for the state to argue against a sentence if it thought it was too lenient.
9.40am BST9.40am BST
09:4009:40
Pistorius has been taken down to the cells.Pistorius has been taken down to the cells.
The courtroom is very quiet. Reporters in the room say there has been little visible reaction from the Steenkamp family, who are there.The courtroom is very quiet. Reporters in the room say there has been little visible reaction from the Steenkamp family, who are there.
But Pistorius’ sister Aimee has left the court in tears.But Pistorius’ sister Aimee has left the court in tears.
9.38am BST
09:38
Judge Masipa has sentenced Oscar Pistorius to six years’ imprisonment for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp.
She said there were “substantial and compelling reasons” to deviate from the 15-year minimum sentence for murder, citing as one factor the continuing misperception that Pistorius had intended to kill his girlfriend.
9.33am BST
09:33
Six years imprisonment
The judge asks Pistorius to stand.
She imposes a sentence of six years.
9.32am BST
09:32
She says it was a “noble gesture” of Pistorius to offer to do community service.
But punishment is not what you choose to do. It ought to be painful.
But she says a long-term imprisonment will not serve justice.
9.31am BST
09:31
Masipa moves on to her conclusion.
No sentence will please everyone, she says. Nothing will bring back the deceased.
The life of the accused will never be the same. He is a fallen hero … He cannot be at peace.
She says she was not surprised to hear him described as a broken man.
9.29am BST
09:29
Masipa says she is not convinced by the evidence given by Scholtz that Pistorius ought to be hospitalised.
9.28am BST
09:28
Pistorius has already spent time in prison, Masipa says.
The court heard evidence that he struggled as an inmate. But she does not accept that he was “vilified” or treated badly by prison officials.
But on reports that he was aggressive to prison staff, Masipa says:
[Being] quick-tempered does not necessarily mean he is a violent person.
Updated
at 9.30am BST
9.26am BST
09:26
The rehabilitation programmes may not be sufficient now that Pistorius’ conviction has been upgraded to murder, the judge says.
(He undertook them when serving his sentence for culpable homicide.)
But she says it indicates that he is a “good candidate for rehabilitation”.
9.24am BST
09:24
The defence wants a non-custodial sentence, Masipa says. They cited workshops on anger management as proof he had been rehabilitated.
But deterrence and retribution are just as important, she says.
9.23am BST
09:23
Masipa accepts the case put forward by the defence that there are “two Oscars” – the successful athlete and the vulnerable disabled man.
(See here for more on the “two Oscars” evidence.)
But this is not the only factor for her to consider, she goes on.
Updated
at 9.24am BST
9.22am BST
09:22
Masipa is speaking at length about what she calls the “misperception” that Pistorius intended to kill Steenkamp and the duty of the court to correct that view.
Public opinion may be loud and persistent but it can play no role in the decision of this court.