Oscar Pistorius sentenced to six years for murder of Reeva Steenkamp – live
Live coverage as Pistorius learns if he will return to prison for up to 15 years for shooting his girlfriend dead in 2013
Masipa left the courtroom swiftly after delivering the sentence but said she would be available to hear an appeal today if that was required.
Previous reports have said that an appeal would not be available to Pistorius, but that it might be possible for the state to argue against a sentence if it thought it was too lenient.
2m ago 09:40
Pistorius has been taken down to the cells.
The courtroom is very quiet. Reporters in the room say there has been little visible reaction from the Steenkamp family, who are there.
But Pistorius’ sister Aimee has left the court in tears.
4m ago 09:38
Judge Masipa has sentenced Oscar Pistorius to six years’ imprisonment for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp.
She said there were “substantial and compelling reasons” to deviate from the 15-year minimum sentence for murder, citing as one factor the continuing misperception that Pistorius had intended to kill his girlfriend.
9m ago 09:33
Six years imprisonment
The judge asks Pistorius to stand.
She imposes a sentence of six years.
10m ago 09:32
She says it was a “noble gesture” of Pistorius to offer to do community service.
But punishment is not what you choose to do. It ought to be painful.
But she says a long-term imprisonment will not serve justice.
11m ago 09:31
Masipa moves on to her conclusion.
No sentence will please everyone, she says. Nothing will bring back the deceased.
The life of the accused will never be the same. He is a fallen hero … He cannot be at peace.
She says she was not surprised to hear him described as a broken man.
13m ago 09:29
Masipa says she is not convinced by the evidence given by Scholtz that Pistorius ought to be hospitalised.
14m ago 09:28
Pistorius has already spent time in prison, Masipa says.
The court heard evidence that he struggled as an inmate. But she does not accept that he was “vilified” or treated badly by prison officials.
But on reports that he was aggressive to prison staff, Masipa says:
[Being] quick-tempered does not necessarily mean he is a violent person.
16m ago 09:26
The rehabilitation programmes may not be sufficient now that Pistorius’ conviction has been upgraded to murder, the judge says.
(He undertook them when serving his sentence for culpable homicide.)
But she says it indicates that he is a “good candidate for rehabilitation”.
18m ago 09:24
The defence wants a non-custodial sentence, Masipa says. They cited workshops on anger management as proof he had been rehabilitated.
But deterrence and retribution are just as important, she says.
19m ago 06:23
Masipa accepts the case put forward by the defence that there are “two Oscars” – the successful athlete and the vulnerable disabled man.
But this is not the only factor for her to consider, she goes on.
20m ago 09:22
Masipa is speaking at length about what she calls the “misperception” that Pistorius intended to kill Steenkamp and the duty of the court to correct that view.
Public opinion may be loud and persistent but it can play no role in the decision of this court.
Masipa left the courtroom swiftly after delivering the sentence but said she would be available to hear an appeal today if that was required.
Previous reports have said that an appeal would not be available to Pistorius, but that it might be possible for the state to argue against a sentence if it thought it was too lenient.
2m ago 09:40
Pistorius has been taken down to the cells.
The courtroom is very quiet. Reporters in the room say there has been little visible reaction from the Steenkamp family, who are there.
But Pistorius’ sister Aimee has left the court in tears.
4m ago 09:38
Judge Masipa has sentenced Oscar Pistorius to six years’ imprisonment for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp.
She said there were “substantial and compelling reasons” to deviate from the 15-year minimum sentence for murder, citing as one factor the continuing misperception that Pistorius had intended to kill his girlfriend.
9m ago 09:33
Six years imprisonment
The judge asks Pistorius to stand.
She imposes a sentence of six years.
10m ago 09:32
She says it was a “noble gesture” of Pistorius to offer to do community service.
But punishment is not what you choose to do. It ought to be painful.
But she says a long-term imprisonment will not serve justice.
11m ago 09:31
Masipa moves on to her conclusion.
No sentence will please everyone, she says. Nothing will bring back the deceased.
The life of the accused will never be the same. He is a fallen hero … He cannot be at peace.
She says she was not surprised to hear him described as a broken man.
13m ago 09:29
Masipa says she is not convinced by the evidence given by Scholtz that Pistorius ought to be hospitalised.
14m ago 09:28
Pistorius has already spent time in prison, Masipa says.
The court heard evidence that he struggled as an inmate. But she does not accept that he was “vilified” or treated badly by prison officials.
But on reports that he was aggressive to prison staff, Masipa says:
[Being] quick-tempered does not necessarily mean he is a violent person.
16m ago 09:26
The rehabilitation programmes may not be sufficient now that Pistorius’ conviction has been upgraded to murder, the judge says.
(He undertook them when serving his sentence for culpable homicide.)
But she says it indicates that he is a “good candidate for rehabilitation”.
18m ago 09:24
The defence wants a non-custodial sentence, Masipa says. They cited workshops on anger management as proof he had been rehabilitated.
But deterrence and retribution are just as important, she says.
19m ago 06:23
Masipa accepts the case put forward by the defence that there are “two Oscars” – the successful athlete and the vulnerable disabled man.
But this is not the only factor for her to consider, she goes on.
20m ago 09:22
Masipa is speaking at length about what she calls the “misperception” that Pistorius intended to kill Steenkamp and the duty of the court to correct that view.
Public opinion may be loud and persistent but it can play no role in the decision of this court.
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