Oscar Pistorius sentenced to 5 years for culpable homicide

Oscar Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide on Tuesday and sentenced to five years in jail for the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius was also found guilty of a firearms charge stemming from an unrelated incident when he unlawfully fired a gun in a restaurant.

The two sentences will run concurrently, with the firearms charge wholly suspended for five years.

Despite the five-year sentence, the South African double-amputee sprinter is expected to serve 10 months in jail before being released into a custodial sentence at his home for the remainder of the term. The prosecution had originally called for a 10-year sentence while the defense lobbied for community service and house arrest. Both sides still have the right to file an appeal.

A lawyer representing the Steenkamp family stated justice was served but expressed that they had not decided on whether they would file an appeal. The defense would not comment.

Judge Thokozile Masipa believes her ruling to be “fair and just” and expressed that she needed to find a balance in her sentencing, via the BBC:

“A non-custodial sentence would send the wrong message to the community. On the other hand, a long sentence would also not be appropriate either, as it would lack the element of mercy.”

June Steenkamp, Reeva’s mother, stated that the sentence provided some sense of closure, but that closure was not something she would experience unless there was someway to “magic” Reeva back.

Arnold Pistorius, Oscar’s uncle, stated the family accepts the judgment and expressed that the last 20 months have been emotionally draining. He said the family would support Pistorius while he serves his sentence and asked for the media to respect their privacy.

Pistorius was transported to prison immediately after the trial and will be evaluated for his placement given his handicap. The defense argued that Pistorius would be more vulnerable than a normal man, but Judge Masipa believes prisons are equipped to handle his needs.

Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013 when he fired a gun at a closed bathroom door. Pistorius claims he believed an intruder was in the house, hiding in the bathroom, and that he was acting in self-defense.

Judge Masipa found Pistorius not guilty of premeditated murder and a lesser charge of murder in September. They were the harsher of the two charges levied against Pistorius. However, he still faced a charge of culpable homicide, which is the negligent killing of another person, and potentially faced 15 years in prison.