Oscar Pistorius Sentenced To Five Years In Prison
South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to five years in prison for killing his girlfriend, Reeve Steenkamp
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In 2012, South African runner Oscar Pistorius was one of the biggest stories of the
.
Oscar Pistorius became the first double leg amputee to participate in the Olympics, competing in the men’s 400 meters and 4 × 400 meters relay. He used special running blades and impressed anyone who saw him run.
He quickly fell from grace. In February of 2013, he shot and killed his girlfriend, Reeve Steenkamp.
In 2014, he went on trail for murder but was found not guilty of premeditated murder. He was, however, found guilty culpable homicide just over a month ago. The South African judge said there was no proof Oscar Pistorius knew his girlfriend was behind a bathroom door when he shot and killed her. He claims he believed he was shooting an intruder.
On Tuesday, he was sentenced to five years in jail.
BREAKING: Judge sentences Oscar Pistorius to 5 years in prison for killing girlfriend. @Reuters
— Yahoo (@Yahoo) October 21, 2014
“We ought to differentiate between what is in the public interest and what society wants,” Judge Thokozile Masipa explained. “Courts do not exist to win popularity contests but exist to dispense justice. The loss of life cannot be reversed. Nothing I do or say today can reverse what happened to the deceased and to her family. Hopefully this sentence shall provide some sort of closure to the family.”
This won’t be enough for many, who believe him to be guilty of murder. His family doesn’t believe the media or society should be upset with the ruling.
“Oscar will embrace this opportunity to pay back society. I appeal to all of you as the media to accept the ruling of the court. After 20 months of relentless public trial, I would ask you, ladies and gentlemen of the media, to let us move forward in this process and give us some degree of dignity and privacy as we do so.”
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