Oscar Pistorius starts five-year prison sentence for culpable homicide of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Paralympic star could serve as little as 10 months behind bars

Heather Saul
Wednesday 22 October 2014 11:30 BST
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Oscar Pistorius arrives in court on day six of sentencing procedures at the High Court in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius arrives in court on day six of sentencing procedures at the High Court in Pretoria

Oscar Pistorius has today been sentenced to five years in prison for the death of Reeva Steenkamp, although the disgraced athlete could serve as little as 10 months behind bars.

Judge Masipa ruled a non-custodial sentence would send the wrong impression to the community, but a long sentence would not be appropriate because it would appear to lack mercy.

The athlete was immediately taken down to the cells, before being transferred to the notorious Pretoria Central Prison.

These are the main points from today's hearing:

Judge Masipa also sentenced the athlete to an additional three years in prison, wholly suspended, for the second count of a firearm contravention.

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