Oscar Pistorius sentenced over Reeva Steenkamp muder: Barry Steenkamp 'pleased trial is over'

Pistorius was handed a six-year sentence for the murder of Steenkamp

Barry Steenkamp has said he is pleased the trial over his daughter's murder is over after Oscar Pistorius was today returned to prison for killing her.

On Tuesday, Judge Masipa handed the former Paralympic gold medallist a six-year sentence for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. Masipa considered the "mitigating circumstances" and "aggravating factors" and said the former outweighed the latter.

As Judge Masipa delivered her verdict, Reeva's parents Barry and June stared ahead.

Mr Steenkamp declined to comment on whether he would appeal Pistorius' sentence after the hearing, saying: "We'll leave that to the State."

Asked by reporters from the Africa News Network for his thoughts on the sentence, Mr Steenkamp provided no comment but said he was pleased the trial was over.

He said his life "will never be the same again".

During the verdict, Judge Masipa recognised the pain Reeva's death had inflicted upon her family and acknowledged how close the law graduate and model was to her parents.

Last month, Mr Steenkamp gave an emotionally-charged testimony where he described his life since Reeva's death.

Breaking down in tears in the witness box last month, he said: "I don't wish that on any human being, finding out what happened, it devastated us. He also detailed how his health had been affected in the wake of the murder.

"I wouldn't say I'm a recluse but I can't really mix with people anymore. I sit on my veranda, at tow, three o'clock in the morning. I smoke my cigarettes and drink my coffee."

Additional reporting by Reuters