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21 October 2014

Oscar Pistorius sentenced to five years in jail

He also receives a three-year suspended sentence for a firearms offence.

By New Statesman

(Photo By Oscar Pistorius in court. Photo: Getty)

Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to five years in jail for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He shot her three times through a door in their Pretoria home on 14 February 2013.

Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide in September, but cleared of murder.

His defence had argued for him to receive a sentence involving community service and house arrest, while the prosecution called for a minimum of ten years in jail.

Judge Thokozile Masipa said that sentencing must be a balance between retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation.

Both the prosecution and the defence have the right to appeal the verdict.

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