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| Oscar Pistorius trial: Call for community service angers prosecutor | Oscar Pistorius trial: Call for community service angers prosecutor |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| South African athlete Oscar Pistorius should not go to jail over the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, his sentencing hearing has been told. | South African athlete Oscar Pistorius should not go to jail over the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, his sentencing hearing has been told. |
| A probation officer appearing for the defence said Pistorius should serve house arrest and community service. | A probation officer appearing for the defence said Pistorius should serve house arrest and community service. |
| Prosecutor Gerrie Nel described the suggestion as "shockingly inappropriate". | Prosecutor Gerrie Nel described the suggestion as "shockingly inappropriate". |
| Pistorius was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Ms Steenkamp last month - but was cleared of murder. | Pistorius was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Ms Steenkamp last month - but was cleared of murder. |
| The decision was criticised by the victim's family. | The decision was criticised by the victim's family. |
| Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine. | Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine. |
| She said the athlete had acted "negligently" when he shot his girlfriend through a toilet door, but had genuinely thought her to be an intruder. | She said the athlete had acted "negligently" when he shot his girlfriend through a toilet door, but had genuinely thought her to be an intruder. |
| Analysis by Andrew Harding, Africa correspondent, Pretoria | Analysis by Andrew Harding, Africa correspondent, Pretoria |
| This was Oscar Pistorius's big chance to convince Judge Thokozile Masipa that he does not deserve to spend a day in prison for killing Reeva Steenkamp. | This was Oscar Pistorius's big chance to convince Judge Thokozile Masipa that he does not deserve to spend a day in prison for killing Reeva Steenkamp. |
| It seemed to go reasonably well for the defence. The athlete's first witness was trauma counsellor Lore Hartzenberg, who strongly implied that a "broken" Pistorius had been punished enough. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel, all snarls and scepticism, questioned her professionalism during cross-examination, but struggled to rattle her. | It seemed to go reasonably well for the defence. The athlete's first witness was trauma counsellor Lore Hartzenberg, who strongly implied that a "broken" Pistorius had been punished enough. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel, all snarls and scepticism, questioned her professionalism during cross-examination, but struggled to rattle her. |
| The next witness was an even tougher challenge for the prosecution, since he was a state employee appearing for the defence. Social worker Joel Maringa assessed what punishment was suitable. He recommended no time in prison, and three years of house arrest and community service instead. | |
| Judge Masipa, as usual, was giving little away, but asked for more details about what "community service" might entail. If you're looking for clues, that may be the highlight from the first day - and remember, the prosecution has yet to call its own witnesses. | Judge Masipa, as usual, was giving little away, but asked for more details about what "community service" might entail. If you're looking for clues, that may be the highlight from the first day - and remember, the prosecution has yet to call its own witnesses. |
| :Defence battles to avoid jail | :Defence battles to avoid jail |
| Key moments from the trial | Key moments from the trial |
| Role of TV coverage | Role of TV coverage |
| Explore the crime scene | Explore the crime scene |
| At the sentencing hearing, Joel Maringa, a prison service officer summoned by the defence, said Pistorius should perform community service and receive three years of house arrest rather than imprisonment. | At the sentencing hearing, Joel Maringa, a prison service officer summoned by the defence, said Pistorius should perform community service and receive three years of house arrest rather than imprisonment. |
| "The accused will benefit from correctional supervision," Mr Maringa said, adding that this will give him an "opportunity to restructure and modify his behaviour". | "The accused will benefit from correctional supervision," Mr Maringa said, adding that this will give him an "opportunity to restructure and modify his behaviour". |
| "We are basically not saying that he should be destroyed because he will still be coming back into the community," he said. | "We are basically not saying that he should be destroyed because he will still be coming back into the community," he said. |
| Mr Nel described Mr Maringa's suggestions as "shockingly inappropriate", adding that they would amount to "no sentence". He questioned whether Mr Maringa understood the gravity of Pistorius's crime. | Mr Nel described Mr Maringa's suggestions as "shockingly inappropriate", adding that they would amount to "no sentence". He questioned whether Mr Maringa understood the gravity of Pistorius's crime. |
| Ms Steenkamp's father, Barry, held his head in his hands as Mr Maringa spoke, while her friends shook their heads in disbelief. | Ms Steenkamp's father, Barry, held his head in his hands as Mr Maringa spoke, while her friends shook their heads in disbelief. |
| The sentencing hearing, which has now been adjourned, is expected to last several days. | The sentencing hearing, which has now been adjourned, is expected to last several days. |
| 'Very emotional' | 'Very emotional' |
| Lawyers for Pistorius are hoping they can prevent a jail sentence. | Lawyers for Pistorius are hoping they can prevent a jail sentence. |
| His psychologist, Lore Hartzenberg, was the first defence witness to speak at the sentencing hearing. | His psychologist, Lore Hartzenberg, was the first defence witness to speak at the sentencing hearing. |
| She described Pistorius as a "broken man" after the killing. She said he was "very emotional" during grief therapy sessions, which were often disrupted by his weeping and retching. | She described Pistorius as a "broken man" after the killing. She said he was "very emotional" during grief therapy sessions, which were often disrupted by his weeping and retching. |
| Mr Nel said it was "very strange" that Ms Hartzenberg was "avoiding" answering questions about Mr Pistorius having a new relationship. | Mr Nel said it was "very strange" that Ms Hartzenberg was "avoiding" answering questions about Mr Pistorius having a new relationship. |
| Ms Hartzenberg said Mr Pistorius had never mentioned a new girlfriend in the therapy sessions. She said she had only heard about the relationship from reports in the press. | Ms Hartzenberg said Mr Pistorius had never mentioned a new girlfriend in the therapy sessions. She said she had only heard about the relationship from reports in the press. |
| The Paralympic sprinter had strenuously denied murdering Ms Steenkamp after a row on Valentine's Day last year, saying he shot her by mistake. | The Paralympic sprinter had strenuously denied murdering Ms Steenkamp after a row on Valentine's Day last year, saying he shot her by mistake. |
| Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria. | Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria. |
| 'Disbelief' | 'Disbelief' |
| The parents of Ms Steenkamp said "justice was not served" after Pistorius was acquitted of murder. | The parents of Ms Steenkamp said "justice was not served" after Pistorius was acquitted of murder. |
| June and Barry Steenkamp told NBC News of their "disbelief" that the court had believed Pistorius' version of events. | June and Barry Steenkamp told NBC News of their "disbelief" that the court had believed Pistorius' version of events. |
| Earlier, Arnold Pistorius, the athlete's uncle, said the family was "deeply grateful" to the judge for finding him not guilty of murder and that a "big burden" had been lifted. | Earlier, Arnold Pistorius, the athlete's uncle, said the family was "deeply grateful" to the judge for finding him not guilty of murder and that a "big burden" had been lifted. |
| South Africa's prosecuting authority said it was "disappointed" that Pistorius was not convicted of murder but said it would wait until after sentencing to decide whether to appeal. | South Africa's prosecuting authority said it was "disappointed" that Pistorius was not convicted of murder but said it would wait until after sentencing to decide whether to appeal. |
| Despite the conviction, the International Paralympic Committee has said Pistorius will be allowed to compete in future events. | Despite the conviction, the International Paralympic Committee has said Pistorius will be allowed to compete in future events. |