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Oscar Pistorius returns to court as sentencing starts | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has returned to court for sentencing after being convicted of killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. | |
Pistorius was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Ms Steenkamp last month but he was cleared of murder. | Pistorius was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Ms Steenkamp last month but he was cleared of murder. |
His psychologist was the first defence witness to speak at the sentencing hearing, which could last several days. | |
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 in the "belief that there was an intruder". | |
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. | |
Pistorius' personal psychologist Lore Hartzenberg told the courtroom on Monday that Pistorius was "very emotional" during grief therapy sessions, which were often disrupted by his weeping and crying. | |
She said the athlete felt "vilified and humiliated" by the media and social media networks, making him feel "utterly worthless". | |
Judge Masipa is to hear legal arguments and testimony from a number of witnesses before passing sentence. | |
Analysis by Andrew Harding, Africa correspondent, Pretoria | Analysis by Andrew Harding, Africa correspondent, Pretoria |
There is a very real chance - backed up by precedent - that Pistorius could be given no jail time at all. | There is a very real chance - backed up by precedent - that Pistorius could be given no jail time at all. |
The judge could argue that he is a first-time offender who has shown genuine remorse. But given his criminal misuse of a firearm, what sort of message would that send to the public? | The judge could argue that he is a first-time offender who has shown genuine remorse. But given his criminal misuse of a firearm, what sort of message would that send to the public? |
And - this is unanswerable, I suppose - would it even be in his own best interests to serve no prison time? | And - this is unanswerable, I suppose - would it even be in his own best interests to serve no prison time? |
Would the public here and abroad welcome him back into society, and what sort of stress would he find himself under? | Would the public here and abroad welcome him back into society, and what sort of stress would he find himself under? |
Having given Pistorius the benefit of the doubt in reaching her verdict - and taken plenty of flak for it - Judge Masipa may choose to lean the other way in sentencing. | Having given Pistorius the benefit of the doubt in reaching her verdict - and taken plenty of flak for it - Judge Masipa may choose to lean the other way in sentencing. |
Pistorius sentence: Jail or Olympic training? | Pistorius sentence: Jail or Olympic training? |
Key moments from the trial | |
Role of TV coverage | |
Explore the crime scene | |
The judge said the state had failed to prove he intended to kill. | |
The athlete, who has been on bail since the verdict, was also found guilty on a charge of negligently handling a firearm that went off in a restaurant. | The athlete, who has been on bail since the verdict, was also found guilty on a charge of negligently handling a firearm that went off in a restaurant. |
He was acquitted of another charge of firing a gun in public, through the sunroof of a car, and of illegal possession of ammunition in the home where he killed Ms Steenkamp. | He was acquitted of another charge of firing a gun in public, through the sunroof of a car, and of illegal possession of ammunition in the home where he killed Ms Steenkamp. |
'Disbelief' | 'Disbelief' |
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. | |
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 would be allowed to compete in future events. | Despite the conviction, the International Paralympic Committee has said Pistorius would be allowed to compete in future events. |
Director of media and communications Craig Spence told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Oscar's done a great deal for the Paralympic movement. He's been an inspiration to millions, but obviously his priority now is to see what the judge decides. | Director of media and communications Craig Spence told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Oscar's done a great deal for the Paralympic movement. He's been an inspiration to millions, but obviously his priority now is to see what the judge decides. |
"If he wishes to resume his athletics career then we wouldn't step in his way. We would allow him to compete again in the future." | "If he wishes to resume his athletics career then we wouldn't step in his way. We would allow him to compete again in the future." |