Oscar Pistorius’s fate was at last determined by Judge Thokozile Masipa on Tuesday.
The Paralympian received a suspended three-year sentence for a firearms charge and he was sentenced to five years in prison for the culpable homicide charge.
“A noncustodial sentence [for Oscar Pistorius] would send the wrong message to the community,” said Masipa. “A long sentence would also not be appropriate because it would lack mercy.”
She also roundly rejected efforts by the defense to paint Pistorius as far too vulnerable for prison due to his disability.
Said Masipa, “Yes, the accused is vulnerable, but he also has excellent coping skills. He really saw himself as disabled, [but he] worked hard, and became respected worldwide.”
Victim Reeva Steenkamp’s parents told the press that they were happy with the sentence and simply relieved that the case was over at long last.
Arnold Pistorius, Oscar’s uncle said, “We accept the judgment. Oscar will embrace the opportunity to pay back to society.”
The uncle also pleaded with the press and public “accept the ruling of the court” and to grant himself and the rest of Pistorius’s family “some degree of dignity and privacy”.
Oscar Pistorius reportedly showed little to no reaction as he learned his fate, except for wiping his eyes.
#Pistorius' uncle "We accept the judgment. Oscar will embrace opportunity to pay back society" http://t.co/zRWJAe12Ex pic.twitter.com/KHfvaC4ZjQ
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) October 21, 2014
The 27-year-old was led away as he will begin serving jail time immediately.
Despite receiving what some would consider a lenient sentence, his defense is convinced that Oscar Pistorius will not do a full five years.
They expect the athlete to serve as much as a year in prison before being released, with the expectation he’ll serve the rest of his sentence at home.
The attorney for Reeva Steenkamp’s family echoed this sentiment, saying he expects Oscar to serve no more than two years for fatally shooting his girlfriend.
Women's violence charity says Oscar Pistorius's sentence is 'worryingly short' http://t.co/NNyM9Db1Q7 pic.twitter.com/IbgQWklXkh
— The Independent (@Independent) October 21, 2014
Do you think that Oscar Pistorius’s sentence was fair or far too lenient?
The post Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Years, Though Defense Claims He’ll Only Do A Year. Justice Served? appeared first on WebProNews.
