Oscar’s fate to be heard
Oscar Pistorius will hear his fate on Tuesday morning when Judge Thokozile Masipa will deliver his sentencing for his culpable homicide conviction after he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentines Day last year.
The world is anticipating whether Judge Thokozile Masipa will give into the state’s demand of 10 years imprisonment as Paralympic gold-medallist Oscar Pistorius will be sentenced on Tuesday for the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, last year.
The trial, which began in March, neared to a close when Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide last month.
“The minimum that society will be happy with will be 10 years in prison,” prosecutor Gerrie Nel said.
The defence, however, argued that Pistorius should rather serve the suggested three years house arrests with a monthly 16 hours of community service as he has already suffered hardships since the 2013 Valentine’s Day death.
“The accused is only 27-years-old and not even wiser than an older person. For the past 18 months he has lived with the consequences of humiliation and false accusations. He is down and out. Not only is he broke, but he’s broken,” the court heard defence lawyer Barry Roux on Friday.
If sentenced to jail, Pistorius might serve time at the Kgosi Mampuru Prison in Pretoria.
Acting National Commissioner for the correctional services, Zac Modise, testified on Wednesday that Pistorius will be sent to the hospital section of the prison, like all other disabled inmates.
Meanwhile, the Department of Correctional Services has denied reports that the Kgosi Mampuru Prison has started preparations for housing the world icon.
“Any insinuation that the department has prepared a cell to incarcerate anyone who has not yet been sentenced to a jail term is both malicious and irresponsible,” spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga reportedly said.
The sentencing will reconvene on Tuesday at 09:30 at the North Gauteng High Court.
Will Pistorius serve the requested minimum sentence of 10 years, the defence’s request of three years house arrest or will Judge Masipa find a more suitable punishment?
