Oscar Pistorius sentencing: Watch live video as hearing continues
Watch live: Oscar Pistorius' sentencing
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Tuesday sees the former Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius back in court for the second day of his sentencing hearing, following the death of his former girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year.
On February 14 2013, Pistorius shot 29-year-old Steenkamp three times through the bathroom door of the couple’s home in Johannesburg.
Pistorius denied that he was guilty of murder throughout his trial, and told the court that he had shot Steenkamp in the belief that she was an intruder
The athlete was cleared of murder last month by Judge Thokozile Masipa and was instead handed the lesser charge of culpable homicide.
Judge Masipa agreed that Pistorius had acted “negligently” but concluded this had been carried out in the "belief that there was an intruder".
Watch the second day of sentencing live below
Live video feed courtesy of enca.com/oscartrial
The crime of culpable homicide can carry with it a sentence of 15 years behind bars; however, Judge Masipa could decide to suspend the sentence or merely impose a fine.
At sentencing yesterday, Pistorius’ defence team argued that despite the tragic event Pistorius “should not be destroyed” with their witness trauma counsellor Lore Hartzenberg said that Oscar Pistorius was already “broken” as a result of Steenkamp’s death.
Another one of their witnesses, state probation officer Joel Maringa, caused controversy when he suggested that Pistorius should not be put in prison but, instead, receive a sentence of three years house arrest and carry out a period of community service.
Maringa said that Pistorius would “benefit from correctional supervision" and that it would give him the "opportunity to restructure and modify his behaviour".
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel suggested that this opinion was “shockingly inappropriate” and said if Maringa was listened to it would amount to “no sentence” at all.
Pistorius’ defence are keen to ensure that Pistorius avoids a prison term, while the state prosecution team will be hoping for the maximum 15 years prison term.
The sentencing hearing is expected to last several days.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments