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Nairaland Forum / Entertainment / Sports / Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing (1522 Views)
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Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by mrlycan: 10:00am On Oct 21, 2014 |
(CNN) -- From a globally lauded athlete to convicted killer, Oscar Pistorius' fall from grace culminated Tuesday with a five-year sentence in the shooting death of his girlfriend. The sentence was imposed for the charge of culpable homicide, which in South Africa means a person was killed unintentionally, but unlawfully. He was also given a three-year sentence on a firearms charge, but it was suspended for five years on condition he is not found guilty of another crime where there is negligence involving a firearm during that period. That count related to an occasion when Pistorius discharged a loaded handgun under a table in a busy restaurant. No one was hurt. During his trial, the double-amputee sprinter often sobbed at the mention of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp's name. He insisted that he mistook her for an intruder when he shot her through a toilet door on Valentine's Day 2013. But there was very little visible reaction from Pistorius as the sentence was read. Pistorius' defense has called for a sentence of house arrest and community service. 'Mine and mine alone' Giving her reasoning Tuesday, Judge Thokozile Masipa emphasized that the decision on sentencing would be "mine and mine alone." She pointed out that sentencing is not an exact science but relies on an assessment of elements including the nature and seriousness of the crime, the personal circumstances of the accused and the interests of society. She said she would also take into account the factors in sentencing of retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation. In any case, she said, "sentencing is about achieving the right balance." No 'insurmountable challenge' In her final remarks, Masipa dismissed evidence given by probation officer Annette Vergeer that prison would not be able to accommodate Pistorius' disability, saying her testimony was outdated and sketchy. She said Pistorius would not present the prison system with an "insurmountable challenge." The judge added that she felt Pistorius' vulnerability had been overstated in the evidence given and that his excellent coping strategies -- shown in his ability to compete with able-bodied atletes -- had been overlooked. He would be able to continue treatment for physical problems and mental health issues while in prison, she said. In terms of the seriousness of the offense, Masipa said Pistorius had shown gross negligence in shooting into a small toilet cubicle, knowing there was someone inside who could not escape. He also knew how to handle firearms, she said, adding that these were "very aggravating" factors. On the other hand, mitigating factors include that Pistorius is a first offender and remorseful, Masipa said. She also mentioned his contribution to society in giving his time and money to charities and inspiring others with disabilities to believe they could succeed. Masipa indicated that whatever sentence she handed down would not be impacted by Pistorius' fame. "It would be a sad day for this country if the impression was to be created that there was one law for the poor and disadvantaged and another for the rich and famous," she said. The judge also highlighted the loss suffered by Steenkamp's family, which has had a negative impact on her father's health. Steenkamp was young, vivacious and full of life at the time of her death, she said. "The loss of life cannot be reversed. Nothing I say or do today can reverse what happened," she said. 'Sweetest human being' Steenkamp, 29, was a law school graduate who turned to modeling in recent years. "She was the kindest, sweetest human being, an angel on earth," said her agency, Capacity Relations. Pistorius, 27, made history when he became the first Paralympian to compete in the able-bodied Olympics in 2012. He was born without the fibulae in his legs, which were amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old. At the London Olympics, he ran on special carbon fiber blades that earned him the nickname "Blade Runner." Even though he didn't medal, he became an inspiration to the disabled and a national hero in South Africa. Pistorius talked about his fame as a role model before the shooting. "Obviously, being an international sportsman, there's a lot of responsibility that comes with that," he told CNN. "So having to remember that there are kids out there, especially, that look up to you is definitely something that you need to keep at the back of your mind." State prosecutor Gerrie Nel had called for a minimum prison sentence of 10 years for Pistorius. "This is a serious matter," Nel said at the end of the arguments over sentencing. "The negligence borders on intent. Ten years is the minimum." There is no legal minimum sentence for culpable homicide in South African law, so the decision is entirely up to the judge's discretion. Pistorius' siblings speak out On the eve of Pistorius' sentencing, two of his biggest supporters -- his siblings -- told CNN's Robyn Curnow that the lives of everyone close to the trial have already been changed forever, no matter the outcome. "No one who's been close to the situation can just overcome it," Aimee Pistorius said. "It's something my brother will carry with him forever and ... regardless of what's happening now it's just a certain phase in a journey that will never end." As the defense attorneys have argued, she said there is no reason to doubt that her brother believed an intruder was in the bathroom who posed a risk to him and Steenkamp when he fired shots through the toilet door. Aimee Pistorius said she was shocked when she first heard about the fatal shooting. "But also knowing my brother -- his insecurities, who he is -- the very first thing that came to my mind is that it could have only been a mistaken identity for an intruder and that's because I know my brother and I know his fears," she said. "It's never going to be over," Aimee Pistorius said. "Something like this changes my brother's life, our lives, the Steenkamps', their family, their friends." Whatever the court decides, public opinion has been harsh on Oscar Pistorius, which both siblings said had affected them. There have even been reports of threats by gang leaders in prison against Oscar Pistorius that have the family worried. Steenkamp's father: 'Only he knows' Steenkamp's parents are skeptical about the man who killed their daughter. "If he's telling the truth, I may forgive him one day," father Barry Steenkamp told the Afrikaans-language newspaper Beeld. But ''if it didn't happen as he described it, he should suffer. And he will suffer ... only he knows." |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by freecocoa(f): 10:03am On Oct 21, 2014 |
I said it o, coogar come here, he didn't walk free. *dancing shoki* |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by coogar: 10:07am On Oct 21, 2014 |
freecocoa: he was guilty of culpable homicide... the trial by the media didn't help & when i learnt he was secretly giving money to his girlfriend's family for more than a year, i knew the judge would come hard on him. 5 years isn't bad.....someone died due to his carelessness. well-deserved. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by freecocoa(f): 10:10am On Oct 21, 2014 |
coogar:You are very lucky you are so far away from me, I for give you flying nodding, is this the song you were singing months ago? You just realized someone died abi? Anyways my own was to see him behind bars and now, the gods have done it again. Make we pour libation. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by coogar: 10:19am On Oct 21, 2014 |
freecocoa: yes.....months ago, you said he was guilty of murder. murder & manslaughter are 2 different things. i never disputed pistorius shot his girlfriend. what was disputed was whether he deliberately killed her. i said it wasn't deliberate, you said it was. the court said he said he wasn't guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter......
i knew someone died from the outset - what we argued was if oscar pistorius intentionally killed his girlfriend. go back to the original thread and read it again. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by freecocoa(f): 10:25am On Oct 21, 2014 |
coogar:I wonder why you are not a lawyer, true we argued about it being deliberate or not but you were going on as if he would be free of all charges, I remember you almost boasting he'd walk free. Whatever sha, I'm just excited he got jail term, it woulda been a shame if he'd walked. Still maintain dude shot his girlfriend knowingly, he prolly didn't expect her to die, anyhoo, the judge has decided, I can manage the sentence . |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by coogar: 11:09am On Oct 21, 2014 |
freecocoa: i boasted he would walk free from the charges he was alleged to have committed & he did. the prosecutors pressed murder charges against him. he wasn't found guilty of murder.
he shouldn't have been sent to jail. he's disabled. house arrest should have been ok. the prison gang leader has been making threats he would kill oscar. he's lost everything now.......the depression might drive him to suicide. i can understand why the judge gave him 5 years though. they wouldn't want to make it look like one law for the common man & another for high-profile celebrities. he was careless but i cannot say for sure he deliberately killed his girlfriend. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by jahlove4jah: 11:15am On Oct 21, 2014 |
Anger! Anger!! Uncontrolled Anger!!! Just my take. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by tuffgongjo(m): 11:16am On Oct 21, 2014 |
One down,one to go. To me this is like a slap on d wrist. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by mondob2k(m): 11:22am On Oct 21, 2014 |
5yrs aint enough for taking someone's life... |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by freecocoa(f): 11:46am On Oct 21, 2014 |
coogar:Yea yea, a lady died, so.... |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by chuksmarvin(m): 11:48am On Oct 21, 2014 |
If you ask me, the sentence was fair and reasonable...cudos to judge thokozile masipa...because she was very patient and reasonable in explaining the sentence. While we may think 5 years is small, let's be reminded that the prosecuting party were not thorough....The defence did a pretty good job and we hope this does nt stink further into an appeal.... |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by coogar: 11:53am On Oct 21, 2014 |
freecocoa: that is what concerns you - a lady died, a man must be punished whether it's intentional or not intentional. freecocoa, your wish has been granted or you still want more punishment? should i email the judge on your behalf to add manual castration to the sentence? |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by freecocoa(f): 12:05pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
coogar:Because I'm very kind hearted, i'll make do with this one, seriously though, I'm starting to feel for him, prison's gon r'pe him bad. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by coogar: 12:07pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
freecocoa: he's too high profile! he would be in solitary confinement. they won't let him interact with others. he will have the luxury - like abacha's son in prison. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by Lordabas: 12:12pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
5yrs for taking a life? Pathetic! Disgusting!! He should have gotten up to 20yrs..5 yrs not long enough |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by freecocoa(f): 12:12pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
coogar:Story, I trust those men in there will find a way to get to him and even if they don't, confinement is punishment enough, I highly doubt he'd get the kinda treatment you trying to paint. Like he's gon be gettin' p*ssy in there, duh! |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by coogar: 12:16pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
freecocoa: this is africa, not obodo oyibo! what kind of treatment would mikel obi get if he gets sent to prison. even the prison wardens would be queuing up to get oscar's autograph. he's a national icon in south africa. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by Nobody: 12:20pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
coogar: That's the point. All his life, he's been competing against able-bodied athletes with thisame disability, shot Reeva with same disability, have been doing fine with same disability. Why now move away from the real judgement cos he is disabled? With his money, he should be okay in the prison. The gang leader would do nada, Oscar just have to buy himself some protection for the next 5 years. IMO, it's a fair judgement, if this was to be some broke disabled guy, dude would be getting 15 years imprisonment. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by freecocoa(f): 12:23pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
coogar:It's Africa aite but not Nigeria so I bet it would be a tad different than you think. Answer me though, any chance of him getting laid there? |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by Hanibal(m): 12:38pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
B |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by coogar: 12:51pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
freecocoa: not a chance - if any attempt is made, it would constitute a good ground to have his custodial sentence converted into non-custodial. he's disabled! AirborneLacer: hehe! |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by Segadem(m): 1:32pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
Why is it that only two persons are making comment , freecocoa & coogar. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by hollandis(f): 1:34pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
coogar: Do you reason at all? |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by hollandis(f): 1:38pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
Anyone who kills anyone henceforth,should just start crying with phlegm and mucus. Holding the dead victim and shouting,i thought it was an intruder" .That person will be given a light sentence |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by coogar: 1:43pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
hollandis: your brain cells must be at the soles of your feet. contribute your own opinion & stop sniffing my own comments, doofus! |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by treasuremi1(m): 2:15pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
Unfair judgement. Pervert justice. He killed a young lady and got 5years in jail which might end up in just 2 years. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by beinstein(m): 2:26pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
just รค pat on the back this is. 28years imprisonment with hard labour and i'm fine. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by Segadem(m): 4:47pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
Life is a teacher, every one sud learn from his case. |
Re: Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To 5 Yearsin Prison For Girlfriend's Killing by debo07(m): 10:45pm On Oct 21, 2014 |
He will only spend 10 months in prison and the rest will be a house arrest |
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