Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Oscar Pistorius has begun serving a five-year prison sentence for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
He was taken away from court today in a police van with barred windows, after being sentenced by the judge who had found him guilty of culpable homicide in the shooting death of Steenkamp on Valentine's Day of last year.
Legal experts say he could be released after 10 months in jail to serve the remainder of his term under house arrest.
Steenkamp's parents were in court to hear the sentence. And her mother said justice had been done. But a close friend of the slain woman added, "I really don't think any of us will heal anytime soon." She said, "There will always be questions."
An uncle of Pistorius said the double-amputee track star "will embrace this opportunity to pay back to society." But he criticized prosecutors for pursuing a charge of premeditated murder against Pistorius, saying, "They decided to inflict as much collateral damage as they could."
The judge acquitted Pistorius on the murder charge after he testified that he mistook Steenkamp for a nighttime intruder.
Prosecutors say they are considering whether to appeal the sentence. Pistorius could have been sentenced to up to 15 years in jail, but also could have received a completely suspended sentence or house arrest.
%@AP Links
105-a-17-(Arnold Pistorius, Oscar Pistorius' uncle, at news conference)-"back to society"-Oscar Pistorius' uncle Arnold Pistorius says Oscar accepts the court's punishment. (21 Oct 2014)
<<CUT *105 (10/21/14)££ 00:17 "back to society"
103-a-04-(Roxanne Adams, assistant of Oscar Pistorius defense lawyer Barry Roux, in interview)-"on house arrest"-Roxanne Adams of Oscar Pistorius' defense says Pistorius will spend only 10 months of his 5-year sentence in prison. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory on-air credit)) (21 Oct 2014)
<<CUT *103 (10/21/14)££ 00:04 "on house arrest"
102-a-03-(Barry Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp's father, with reporters outside courtroom after sentencing)-"the verdict, yeah"-Reeva Steenkamp's father, Barry, says a five-year sentence is enough. (21 Oct 2014)
<<CUT *102 (10/21/14)££ 00:03 "the verdict, yeah"
089-a-10-(Judge Thokozile Masipa ((toh-koh-ZEE'-leh mah-SEE'-pah), in courtroom during sentencing phase of Pistorius trial)-"of everyone involved"-Judge Thokozile Masipa sums up her feelings after handing down her sentence. (21 Oct 2014)
<<CUT *089 (10/21/14)££ 00:10 "of everyone involved"
APPHOTO XDF140: A vehicle believed to be transporting Oscar Pistorius arrives at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Services prison in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014. Pistorius was sentenced to five years imprisonment by judge Thokozile Masipais for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year. (AP Photo) (21 Oct 2014)
<<APPHOTO XDF140 (10/21/14)££
APPHOTO XDF117: Oscar Pistorius, front left, greets his uncle Arnold Pistorius, right, and other family members as he is led out of court in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014. Pistorius received a five-year prison sentence for culpable homicide by judge Thokozile Masipais for the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year (AP Photo/Herman Verwey, Pool) (21 Oct 2014)
<<APPHOTO XDF117 (10/21/14)££
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
