Oscar Pistorius will be sentenced for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on July 6, the South African High Court judge overseeing the case said at the end of three days of hearings.
The 29-year-old Paralympic gold medallist, known as “Blade Runner” for the carbon-fibre prosthetics he wore when racing, faces a minimum of 15 years in jail after his manslaughter conviction for the 2013 killing was upgraded on appeal.
Oscar Pistorius has removed his prosthetic limbs and hobbled around the courtroom at his sentencing hearing in South Africa.
The former athlete was on his stumps when he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a door at his home in 2013, and his defence made much of his vulnerability.
The hearing in Pretoria was called after a court convicted him of murder, overturning a manslaughter verdict.
Pistorius will be sentenced on 6 July.
His defence had argued that he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder.
On Wednesday, the court heard testimony from Ms Steenkamp’s cousin Kim Martin, who said the victim had not loved Pistorius though she had been fond of him.
The double amputee faces a jail term of 15 years but it may be reduced due to time already spent in prison and mitigating factors.
Theatrics aside – Pumza Fihlani , BBC News, Pretoria
Image copyright Reuters Oscar Pistorius has spent all his life fighting misconceptions about disabled people but today, with this fate hanging in the balance, he hobbled in the courtroom before Judge Thokozile Masipa – desperate to show his vulnerability.
Very few people have seen this world-renowned athlete this way. Over the course of his trial, we learned of a self-conscious Pistorius worlds apart from the demi-god celebrated for his sporting prowess.
It is one of those moments that will remain etched on the minds of many – it’s beyond doubt that defence lawyer Barry Roux made an impression here. But theatrics aside, Gerrie Nel, for the prosecution, reminded the world of the hard facts – Reeva Steenkamp was dead and Oscar Pistorius killed her.
Mr Nel argued that South Africa’s high murder rate and seeming leniency of the courts could no longer go unchallenged. He implored the judge to not let this be “business as usual”.
Now Judge Thokozile Masipa, a decorated and well-respected judge, who though soft-spoken speaks with authority, is now faced with the difficult task of imposing a sentence.
‘Seriously compromised’
Making his final plea for the defence, lawyer Barry Roux stressed his client’s disability as he gave his version of events at the former athlete’s home on Valentine’s Day (14 February) 2013.
“It is three o’clock in the morning, it is dark, he is on his stumps,” he said.
“His balance is seriously compromised and… he would not be able to defend himself. He was anxious, he was frightened…
“He believed the person in the toilet was an intruder and deceased was at the time in the bed,” Mr Roux said.
Mr Roux asked Pistorius to remove his prosthetic limbs and the sobbing former star, who was wearing shorts, took them off and hobbled about.
The lawyer argued that a sentence with community service should be considered.
BBC and Reuters
