Oscar Pistorius begins jail sentence for Reeva Steenkamp death
Pistorius was taken straight to the prison after sentencing
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has begun serving time in jail for killing his girlfriend
Reeva Steenkamp. He was driven to Pretoria's Kgosi Mampuru prison where he is expected
to be housed in the hospital wing. Judge Thokozile Masipa gave Pistorius a five-year jail
sentence for culpable homicide, but cleared him of murder. His defence said it expected him
to serve about 10 months, with the remainder under house arrest. His family say he will not
appeal. The parents of Reeva Steenkamp told the BBC they were happy with the sentence
and relieved the case was over. Prosecutors had called for a minimum 10-year term, and the
defence had argued for community service and house arrest. Pistorius, 27, an amputee
sprinter who became the first athlete to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games,
killed Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year. He says he shot her by mistake, fearing
there was an intruder in his house in Pretoria. Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, reality
TV star and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets fired by Pistorius through a toilet
door.
Before he went down the stairs and out of court, Oscar Pistorius slipped off his expensive
watch and handed it to a relative. It seems the athlete probably knew his sentence
beforehand, which helps explains the subdued atmosphere in court today. This case has
revealed plenty about South Africa - its gun culture, the strengths and inadequacies of its
police and prisons. But above all it has been a simple story, about the rise and fall of a
global icon. As the crowds and cameras drift away from the courthouse, what lingers is the
sense of waste. Of lives and careers for sure. But of time too. A man and a woman went into
a bathroom. Only one came out alive. As the judge made clear - the trial should have been
over in a matter of weeks. Instead it turned into a tortuous, overwrought epic.
Relief as justice is served
Pistorius showed little reaction to the sentence other than to wipe his eyes before being led
away to a holding cell downstairs. He was then driven away from court in an armoured
police van to Pretoria's Kgosi Mampuru prison, where he was expected to undergo a medical
assessment. It is likely that he will be held in a one-man cell in the hospital wing, thought to
be most appropriate for the athlete's disability. Correctional services spokesman Manelisi
Wolela told AFP news agency Pistorius was "already accommodated at Kgosi Mampuru". He
could be released after serving a sixth of his sentence, or 10 months, for good behaviour.
However, Dup De Bruyn, a lawyer for the Steenkamp family, told Reuters that he believed
Pistorius would probably serve two years. Pistorius's uncle, Arnold, said the family would not
appeal against the sentence. "We accept the judgment. Oscar will embrace the opportunity
to pay back to society," he said. He appealed to the media to "accept the ruling of court and
let us move forward in this process and give us some degree of dignity and privacy". The
BBC's Nomsa Maseko, outside court, says opinion there was divided on the sentence, with
some saying it was too light, others that it was fair.
Judge Masipa said she considered her sentence "fair and just, both to society and to the
accused". She said: "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." She said Pistorius had made an "enormous contribution to
society", in his charity work and in changing the public perception of disability. But she
added: "It would be a sad day for this country if an impression were to be created that there
was one law for the poor and disadvantaged, and another for the rich and famous."
Oscar Pistorius shot dead Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year
Judge Masipa also gave Pistorius a three-year suspended sentence for a separate incident firing a gun in a restaurant. The prosecution service said it would consider an appeal but
expressed satisfaction that Pistorius had been given jail time. However, the Women's League
of South Africa's ruling African National Congress said it did plan to appeal. "We're doing this
not only for Reeva but for the millions of South African women who are killed at the hands of
their partners, people who are supposed to protect them," said spokeswoman Khsuela
Sangoni.
"A five-year sentence like this sends a message to society that it is fine to commit such
heinous crimes as femicide, and you will be able to get away with a slap on the wrist."
For more information: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29712728