Reeva Steenkamp's family welcome sentencing of former paralympian Oscar Pistorius
June Steenkamp 'satisfied' with decision reached by judge outside court
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Your support makes all the difference.The parents of Reeva Steenkamp have welcomed the decision to jail Oscar Pistorius for five years for shooting dead their daughter last year.
The paralympian was sentenced to five years in jail for culpable homicide. The athlete was also given three years in jail, wholly suspended for five years, for firearm charges.
Speaking outside the courtroom in Pretoria, June Steenkamp said even though Pistorius may be out of prison in as little time as ten months time, "it doesn't matter. He's going to pay something," she said, confirming her satisfaction with the sentence.
Mrs Steenkamp said trial’s result had provided her with some sort of “closure”, but added there was no real closure for Reeva’s family “unless you can magic her back,” in remarks quoted by Sky News’ Alex Crawford.
The Steenkamp family lawyer said outside court: “The family wanted justice, justice has been done,” adding June was “satisfied” by the sentence.
The family have also indicated they will not appeal the decision of South African Judge Thokozile Masipa.
CBS News Johannesburg Bureau chief Sarah Carter tweeted from outside the court that June Steenkamp was “smiling” briefly after the conclusion of the trial.
Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide, South Africa’s equivalent of manslaughter, last month.
Steenkamp was killed by the paralympian when he fired four shots through a bathroom door at the model in his luxury Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day last year, having mistaken her for an intruder.
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