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South Africa: Oscar Pistorius sentencing hearing begins
In turn, the prosecution will call witnesses to testify on why he should serve the stiffest penalty, raising the issue of his history of negligence with firearms.
After the sentence is handed down, both the prosecution and defence can appeal, a legal process likely to drag out for years.
In September, Judge Masipa ruled the 27-year-old did not knowingly shoot to kill 29-year-old model and law graduate Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. Pistorius admitted he fired four hollow point bullets through a locked toilet door in his upmarket Pretoria home, but said he believed he had been shooting at a burglar.
He is currently out on bail of ZAR 1 million rand (US$90,000). He has had to sell his house – the scene of the crime, to fund the cost of the trial, and has withdrawn from competitive sport since his arrest.
The trial which began on March 3 was broadcast live on television and radio, feeding insatiable local and international media interest.
Source: AFP
