South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been
given five years in jail for killing his girlfriend
Reeva Steenkamp.
Judge Thokozile Masipa also gave Pistorius a
three-year suspended sentence for a firearms
charge.
The parents of Reeva Steenkamp told the BBC
they were happy with the sentence and
relieved the case was over. The defence said it
expected Pistorius to serve about 10 months
in prison.
Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide
but cleared of murder.
Prosecutors had called for a minimum 10-
year term, and the defence had argued for
community service and house arrest.o
'Feeling of unease'
Defence lawyer Barry Roux said his client was
expected to serve 10 months in prison, with
the rest under house arrest.
Also reacting to the sentence, Dup De Bruyn, a
lawyer for the Steenkamp family, told Reuters
that "justice was served".
The BBC's Nomsa Maseko, outside court, says
opinion there was divided on the sentence,
with some saying it was too light, others that
it was fair.
She says Pistorius will be evaluated over the
next few hours in prison to decide where he
will be staying based on his disability.
Judge Masipa said she considered her
sentence "fair and just, both to society and to
the accused".
She said: "A non-custodial sentence would
send the wrong message to the community.
On the other hand, a long sentence would also
not be appropriate either, as it would lack the
element of mercy."
Judge Masipa said that nothing she could say
or do could bring back Reeva Steenkamp, but
"hopefully, this judgment on sentence shall
provide some sort of closure for the family".
The judge begun reading her decision by
saying there must be a balance between
retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation.
She then summarised the evidence brought
before the trial. She described the evidence of
defence witness and social worker Annette
Vergeer as "slapdash and disappointing".
Ms Vergeer had argued Pistorius would be "a
lot more vulnerable than the normal man" in
jail.
But Judge Masipa said she was sure prisons
were equipped to cater for the requirements of
a special needs inmate.

http://m.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29700457

Op,alert mii when it makes FP...sogbo

Justice finally served

He ll still find his way out after 10 months