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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/jul/06/oscar-pistorius-sentenced-murder-reeva-steenkamp-live
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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Oscar Pistorius sentenced to six years for Steenkamp murder – live coverage | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.20am BST | 11.20am BST |
| 11:20 | 11:20 |
| Summary | Summary |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| Our courts are courts of law, not courts of public opinion. | Our courts are courts of law, not courts of public opinion. |
| The life of the accused will never be the same … He is a fallen hero, who has lost his career, and been ruined financially. He cannot be at peace. | The life of the accused will never be the same … He is a fallen hero, who has lost his career, and been ruined financially. He cannot be at peace. |
| unpleasant, uncomfortable and painful. | unpleasant, uncomfortable and painful. |
| There is no indication at all that the deceased was in an abusive relationship. | There is no indication at all that the deceased was in an abusive relationship. |
| The pain runs deep and … the impact of the accused’s conduct on the family of the deceased has been devastating. | The pain runs deep and … the impact of the accused’s conduct on the family of the deceased has been devastating. |
| 10.56am BST | 10.56am BST |
| 10:56 | 10:56 |
| Anneliese Burgess, a spokesperson for the Pistorius family, said the trial had been a “long, drawn-out process”: | Anneliese Burgess, a spokesperson for the Pistorius family, said the trial had been a “long, drawn-out process”: |
| To a certain extent there is relief that this is the last chapter, that they won’t be coming back. | To a certain extent there is relief that this is the last chapter, that they won’t be coming back. |
| However, campaigners for women’s rights in South Africa expressed disappointment with the sentence. Jacqui Mofokeng of the African National Congress women’s league, who has attended much of the trial and was in court today, said: | However, campaigners for women’s rights in South Africa expressed disappointment with the sentence. Jacqui Mofokeng of the African National Congress women’s league, who has attended much of the trial and was in court today, said: |
| The judgment is an insult to women. It sends the wrong message. | The judgment is an insult to women. It sends the wrong message. |
| 10.35am BST | 10.35am BST |
| 10:35 | 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. | 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 | 10.28am BST |
| 10:28 | 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. | 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. | 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. | But he adds that the defence team will of course “react” if the state decides to appeal the sentence. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.31am BST | at 10.31am BST |
| 10.18am BST | 10.18am BST |
| 10:18 | 10:18 |
| Jason Burke | 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 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 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. | 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: | However, supporters of the Steenkamps said: |
| The law has run its course. | The law has run its course. |
| Doup De Bruyn, a lawyer who has represented the family, said: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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.” | 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”. | 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 | Updated |
| at 10.20am BST | at 10.20am BST |
| 10.13am BST | 10.13am BST |
| 10:13 | 10:13 |
| This is the scene outside the North Gauteng high court – at some point Oscar Pistorius will be taken from here to prison. | 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 | #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 | 10.08am BST |
| 10:08 | 10:08 |
| Carl Pistorius, the brother of Oscar Pistorius, has just tweeted this response to the verdict: | 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 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. | 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 BST | 10.00am BST |
| 10:00 | 10:00 |
| 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 BST | 9.54am BST |
| 09:54 | 09:54 |
| 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 BST | 9.50am BST |
| 09:50 | 09:50 |
| 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 BST | 9.47am BST |
| 09:47 | 09:47 |
| 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 BST | 9.44am BST |
| 09:44 | 09:44 |
| 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 BST | 9.41am BST |
| 09:41 | 09:41 |
| 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 BST | 9.40am BST |
| 09:40 | 09:40 |
| 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. |