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| Oscar Pistorius described as ‘broken man’ at sentencing hearing | Oscar Pistorius described as ‘broken man’ at sentencing hearing |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Double-amputee track star Oscar Pistorius, who was found guilty of culpable homicide last month in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day 2013, was described as a “broken man” by a therapist at a sentencing hearing Monday in Pretoria, South Africa. | Double-amputee track star Oscar Pistorius, who was found guilty of culpable homicide last month in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day 2013, was described as a “broken man” by a therapist at a sentencing hearing Monday in Pretoria, South Africa. |
| Pistorius’s defense team emphasized his charitable work and his status as a first-time offender in arguing that he should receive house arrest with a sizable community service requirement. The therapist, Lore Hartzenberg, said Pistorius is suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome and that he wants to leave South Africa after serving his sentence. | Pistorius’s defense team emphasized his charitable work and his status as a first-time offender in arguing that he should receive house arrest with a sizable community service requirement. The therapist, Lore Hartzenberg, said Pistorius is suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome and that he wants to leave South Africa after serving his sentence. |
| Agence France-Presse has more: | |
| “Some of the sessions were just him weeping and crying and me holding him,” said Hartzenberg, the first witness called by Pistorius lawyers to mitigate against a prison sentence. “I can confirm his remorse and pain to be genuine,” said Hartzenberg “I have never found him to be anything other than a respectful, caring and well-mannered person.” She described Pistorius as a “broken man.” | “Some of the sessions were just him weeping and crying and me holding him,” said Hartzenberg, the first witness called by Pistorius lawyers to mitigate against a prison sentence. “I can confirm his remorse and pain to be genuine,” said Hartzenberg “I have never found him to be anything other than a respectful, caring and well-mannered person.” She described Pistorius as a “broken man.” |
| “Some of the sessions were just him weeping and crying and me holding him,” said Hartzenberg, the first witness called by Pistorius lawyers to mitigate against a prison sentence. | “Some of the sessions were just him weeping and crying and me holding him,” said Hartzenberg, the first witness called by Pistorius lawyers to mitigate against a prison sentence. |
| “I can confirm his remorse and pain to be genuine,” said Hartzenberg “I have never found him to be anything other than a respectful, caring and well-mannered person.” | “I can confirm his remorse and pain to be genuine,” said Hartzenberg “I have never found him to be anything other than a respectful, caring and well-mannered person.” |
| She described Pistorius as a “broken man.” | She described Pistorius as a “broken man.” |
| Prosecutor Gerrie Nel pointed out that Hartzenberg was observed crying in court during Pistorius’s trial, suggesting that she is favorably biased toward him. | Prosecutor Gerrie Nel pointed out that Hartzenberg was observed crying in court during Pistorius’s trial, suggesting that she is favorably biased toward him. |
| Nel: “The accused got emotional. So did you.” Hartzenberg: “I was emotional once.” Nel: “You cried in court.” #Pistorius — David Smith (@SmithInAfrica) October 13, 2014 | Nel: “The accused got emotional. So did you.” Hartzenberg: “I was emotional once.” Nel: “You cried in court.” #Pistorius — David Smith (@SmithInAfrica) October 13, 2014 |
| Nel: “The accused got emotional. So did you.” Hartzenberg: “I was emotional once.” Nel: “You cried in court.” #Pistorius | Nel: “The accused got emotional. So did you.” Hartzenberg: “I was emotional once.” Nel: “You cried in court.” #Pistorius |
| — David Smith (@SmithInAfrica) October 13, 2014 | — David Smith (@SmithInAfrica) October 13, 2014 |
| Another defense witness suggested that Pistorius receive a sentence that does not include prison time. Per the Associated Press: | Another defense witness suggested that Pistorius receive a sentence that does not include prison time. Per the Associated Press: |
| Joel Maringa, a social worker in South Africa’s correctional services, suggested that Pistorius be placed under correctional supervision, which would include periods of house arrest, for three years and that he perform 16 hours of community service a month during that time. Such correctional supervision would allow Pistorius to train and attend athletics meetings again, Maringa said. Nel said such a sentence would be “shockingly inappropriate” and described it as “no sentence.” Maringa, who was also called to testify by the defense, listed Pistorius’ involvement in international sporting bodies as well as charity projects and predicted that the athlete’s behavior could be “successfully modified within the community context.” | Joel Maringa, a social worker in South Africa’s correctional services, suggested that Pistorius be placed under correctional supervision, which would include periods of house arrest, for three years and that he perform 16 hours of community service a month during that time. Such correctional supervision would allow Pistorius to train and attend athletics meetings again, Maringa said. Nel said such a sentence would be “shockingly inappropriate” and described it as “no sentence.” Maringa, who was also called to testify by the defense, listed Pistorius’ involvement in international sporting bodies as well as charity projects and predicted that the athlete’s behavior could be “successfully modified within the community context.” |
| Joel Maringa, a social worker in South Africa’s correctional services, suggested that Pistorius be placed under correctional supervision, which would include periods of house arrest, for three years and that he perform 16 hours of community service a month during that time. Such correctional supervision would allow Pistorius to train and attend athletics meetings again, Maringa said. | Joel Maringa, a social worker in South Africa’s correctional services, suggested that Pistorius be placed under correctional supervision, which would include periods of house arrest, for three years and that he perform 16 hours of community service a month during that time. Such correctional supervision would allow Pistorius to train and attend athletics meetings again, Maringa said. |
| Nel said such a sentence would be “shockingly inappropriate” and described it as “no sentence.” | Nel said such a sentence would be “shockingly inappropriate” and described it as “no sentence.” |
| Maringa, who was also called to testify by the defense, listed Pistorius’ involvement in international sporting bodies as well as charity projects and predicted that the athlete’s behavior could be “successfully modified within the community context.” | Maringa, who was also called to testify by the defense, listed Pistorius’ involvement in international sporting bodies as well as charity projects and predicted that the athlete’s behavior could be “successfully modified within the community context.” |
| Judge Thokozile Masipa found Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide — the equivalent of manslaughter — last month after clearing him of murder charges, a decision that was widely questioned by legal observers. She also will decide his sentence, which could be as long as 15 years in prison. There is no minimum punishment for culpable homicide in South Africa, however, meaning Masipa could also decide that he’s been punished enough and release him. | Judge Thokozile Masipa found Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide — the equivalent of manslaughter — last month after clearing him of murder charges, a decision that was widely questioned by legal observers. She also will decide his sentence, which could be as long as 15 years in prison. There is no minimum punishment for culpable homicide in South Africa, however, meaning Masipa could also decide that he’s been punished enough and release him. |
| Pistorius’s sentencing hearing is expected to take several days. | Pistorius’s sentencing hearing is expected to take several days. |
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