Oscar
Pistorius was dramatically jailed for five years today for killing his
model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp - but could spend as little as ten
months behind bars.
The
disgraced Paralympian wiped his eyes as he was handed a five-year
prison term after the judge ruled that a non-custodial sentence would
send the 'wrong message to the community'.
As
he was led down to the cells, Miss Steenkamp's mother, June, smiled as
she told of a sense of 'closure' after a seventh-month trial, but said
it 'would not magic Reeva back.'
The
model's ailing father, who suffered a stroke after his daughter's
death, said he was 'very glad' the trial was over. A lawyer for the
family said the sentence was 'welcome'.
The
runner's sister Aimee briefly covered her head with a jacket and looked
distressed. His family said he would not appeal the sentence.
The
athlete was found guilty of culpable homicide, but was acquitted of
murder after shooting Miss Steenkamp four times through a toilet cubicle
door at his home last year.
According
to legal observers, Pistorius could spend only ten months in jail and,
provided he poses no trouble to the prison authorities, could spend the
remainder of his sentence under correctional supervision at home.
He
is expected to be sent to a high-security wing at the gang-ridden
Pretoria Central Prison, where one criminal kingpin has already
threatened to 'take him out'.
According to
the Act under which Pistorius was sentenced, he must spend at least
one-sixth of his sentence before he can apply for leave to serve the
rest under 'correctional supervision'.
The
athlete appeared to have prepared himself to spend some time behind
bars, while his uncle Arnold Pistorius, the head of the large family,
said there would be no appeal against the sentence.
National
Prosecuting Authority, who have two weeks to decide whether to appeal
against verdict or sentence, suggested they would be content to draw a
line under the matter.
'We have stated that we were disappointed with the judgment but we take solace in fact that Pistorius will serve time in jail.'
Judge Masipa began her summing up today by saying the decision on sentencing 'is mine - and mine alone'.
She told the court: 'Sentencing is about achieving the right balance. Sentencing is not a perfect exercise.'
She also
said that prison would have 'no problems' catering for his disability if
he was jailed, adding that a pregnant woman may be classified as
vulnerable but would not necessarily avoid prison.
She
also said it would be a 'sad day' for South Africa if there was a
perception that it had one law for the rich and another for the poor.
She added: 'Nothing I do or say can reverse what happened to the deceased or her family.'
Judge
Masipa also sentenced Pistorius to three years in prison for unlawfully
firing a gun in a restaurant in a separate incident weeks before Miss
Steenkamp's death.
She ordered that sentence to be wholly suspended.
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