Pistorius sentenced to five years in prison

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Pretoria - Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to five years in prison for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.

Pistorius was also sentenced to three years, suspended for five years, for firing a pistol under a table at Tasha's restaurant, in Johannesburg, in January 2013. 

He was initially charged with premeditated murder and three additional charges relating to the incident, which include the unlawful possession of ammunition and contravention of the Firearms Control Act.

In her ruling last month, Judge Thokozile Masipa found the Paralympian guilty of culpable homicide. 

She also found Pistorius guilty of reckless endangerment of people and property after a gunshot went off at Tasha’s.

Masipa ruled out the convictions of murder and attempted murder. She said the State had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Pistorius intended to kill Steenkamp. 

The sentences would run concurrently. – SAnews.gov.za