'Blade Runner' Pistorius Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

[Randy]

news from: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/pistorius-trial/oscar-pistorius-sentenced-five-years-prison-n230296

Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday for the Valentine’s Day killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Judge Thokozile Masipa said the sentence, which followed the athlete's conviction for culpable homicide, was "fair and just both to society and to the accused." A noncustodial sentence "would send the wrong message to the community,” but a long sentence "would also not be appropriate," she added.

The so-called "Blade Runner" showed little emotion but wiped a tear from his eye after the ruling. He was led down to a holding cell for the first time after having spent the duration of his trial on bail. He was also handed a three-year suspended sentence for a firearms offence.

“Justice was served today,” said Dup de Bruyn, lawyer for Steenkamp’s family. Steenkamp's parents told reporters outside the court they were happy with the sentence. "I'm just glad it's all over," said her father, Barry.

Defense lawyer Barry Roux said he expects Pistorius to serve 10 months in prison before applying to spend the rest of the sentence under house arrrest.

The maximum prison sentence for culpable homicide in South Africa is 15 years. However, Masipa could have given Pistorius a suspended sentence to be served at home under state supervision - a sort of house arrest.

State lawyer Gerrie Nel had called for Pistorius to spend at least a decade behind bars. Roux argued that a community-based sentence was more appropriate because of the remorse Pistorius had shown.

In her ruling, Masipa recounted the impact of the shooting on Reeva's family and on the athlete, who has since sold all his property and has no money left.

She also rejected evidence from defense witnesses about Pistorius' weakness. “There was a feeling of unease on my part as I listened to one witness after another placing what I thought was an overemphasis on the accused’s vulnerability," Masipa said.

"Yes, the accused is vulnerable. But he also has excellent coping skills. Thanks to his mother, he rarely saw himself as disabled and excelled as a top athlete.” Still, she noted that Pistorius had inspired people with disabilities worldwide. "This cannot be ignored," she said.

Masipa also dismissed defense suggestions that South Africa’s prisons would be unable to cope with Pistorius because of his disability. “I have no doubt that, if prisons were below the required standards, the human rights bodies in this and this court would not hesitate to take the necessary steps to remedy the situation,” the judge said. “It would not be the first time that the correctional service was confronted with an inmate with disability.”

Thoughts?

 

[seasidemike]

it is unreal.. this guy should have been found guilty in the first trial.