All eyes on Masipa as sentencing proceedings in Pistorius case begin tomorrow

As sentencing proceedings are set to begin in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial tomorrow, Judge Thokozile Masipa will be under pressure to restore public confidence in the law. Pistorius will be back at the High Court in Pretoria where he will be sentenced again,
after the Supreme Court of Appeal found him guilty of murder and not culpable homicide as Masipa had previously found.

He’s been convicted of shooting and killinghis girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day two years ago at his home in Pretoria.

Criminal law attorney Rian Louw says all eyes will be on Masipa.

“They don’t want to break the accused but also they can’t give a lenient sentence, they have to balance it, to find a balance between those three factors to get a sentence which everybody will be happy with.”

BOOK BY AMATEUR FORENSIC ENTHUSIASTS

In April, the convicted murderer’s family responded angrily to allegations that the former athlete was involved in an argument, moments before he shot Steenkamp



The details are contained in a book published by two amateur forensic enthusiasts who took an interest in the case.



The paralympian’s family was clearly upset that forensic hobbyists had resurrected the premeditated murder version, even after it was abandoned by the State.



The book claims that the marks on Steenkamp’s back were caused by a cricket bat when Pistorius allegedly tried to assault her, and that unexplained wounds were caused by pellets shot from an airgun.



The family said it was totally absurd to suggest that the State, which was so intent on proving premeditated murder, would have overlooked this evidence.


They said the book is nothing more than an attention-seeking, money making exercise by two citizens with detective fantasies.

(Edited by Winnie Theletsane)