BREAKING: Another Masipa judgement sentences #OscarPistorius to ONLY 6 years imprisonment.
Paralympian and double-amputee Oscar Pistorius must serve six years in jail for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.


  1. Pistorius given six year sentence after manslaughter conviction upgraded to murder
  2. Sentence was delivered by Judge Thokozile Masipa, who heard the original trial
  3. Comes three weeks after Pistorius hobbled across courtroom to demonstrate his physical vulnerability
  4. He will serve his sentence in the hospital section of Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria

Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to six years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Judge Thokozile Masipa said the athlete had to be punished for murdering the model and law student but said he had already served 12 months in prison for the previous manslaughter conviction and was remorseful for what he had done.

She said that the athlete would have to serve a custodial sentence because his conviction had been upgraded from manslaughter to murder.

But she added: "I am of the view that a long term of imprisonment would not serve justice in this case."

The state had called for him to receive no less than the 15-year minimum sentence, after his manslaughter conviction was upgraded to murder on appeal.

JudgeMasipa, who heard the original trial, told the court: "Public opinion may be loud and persistent, but it can play no role in the decision of this court," as she delivered the verdict. She said the Paralympian was a "fallen hero."
Judge Thokozile Masipa in the High Court in Pretoria said he was not likely to reoffend.
Pistorius killed Steenkamp on February 14 2013.
He was released into correctional supervision last year after spending close to one year in prison for his previous sentence of five years for culpable homicide‚ which was changed to murder on appeal.