A South African judge has sentenced Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius to six years in jail for his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp’s murder.
Pistorius fatally shot Ms Steenkamp four times through a toilet door and has already served 12 months in jail for her death.
The original manslaughter conviction was increased to murder by the Supreme Court of Appeal in December and Judge Thokozile Masipa said she had accepted the defence argument that a lesser punishment was appropriate.
Pistorius and his sister in court.
“Public opinion may be loud and persistent but it can play no role in the decision of this court,” Masipa said on Wednesday.
“I am of the view that a long term in prison will not serve justice.”
The state and large sections of the public demanded Pistorius be jailed for 15 years, the prescribed minimum term for murder, saying he had shown no remorse.
It’s unclear whether the state would accept the sentence. They have two weeks to appeal.
Reeva Steenkamp and Oscar Pistorius
