Court Sentences Oscar Pistorius To Five Years In Prison

The South African court handling Oscar Pistorius' case has sentenced him to five years in jail for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The preciding Judge, Thokozile Masipa, issuing the ruling in court in Pretoria, also gave Pistorius a three-year suspended sentence for a firearms charge.

The prosecution had called for a minimum 10-year sentence, while the defence for community service and house arrest.

Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide but cleared of murder.

Judge Masipa began reading the sentence by saying that, although
she had been aided by assessors, the decision was hers and hers alone.

She stated “Sentencing is about achieving the right balance. Sentencing is not a perfect exercise.”

She said there must be a balance between retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation.

Lots of mixed reactions have since traild the judgement of the court over Pistorius case.