Oscar Pistorius to be sentenced for murder of Reeva Steenkamp
Mon Jun 13, 2016 10:29:am Sports
3.1K By sosa hills
A sentencing hearing for Oscar Pistorius, a South African athlete who murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013, has started in
Pretoria today.
The double amputee athlete 29, known as "Blade Runner" arrived in the Pretoria court in a dark suit and tie flanked by a large police escort, his
relatives sitting on one side of the court, the family of Steenkamp on the other.
However, the athlete, will not return to the witness box in a desperate bid to convince the court that he is a 'changed man', as his psychologist says he
is too depressed to testify.
Professor Dr Jonathan Scholtz told the court in Pretoria that during the athlete's time in jail, he was held in ‘virtual isolation for his own
protection'.
Dr Scholtz added that the runner's stumps became infected while inside and he had trouble getting medicine, while prison warders brought visitors to
catch sight of the famous prisoner, the court heard, all hours of the day or night.
It was like ‘being on show as if he was an animal in a cage,' Dr Scholtz said.
The doctor also revealed how a recent outing to a local shop ended up with Pistorius forced to flee after another customer protested about shopping with
a murderer.
Oscar Pistorius faces a jail term of at least 15 years, but his sentence can be reduced due to time already spent in prison and mitigating factors.
The hearing is expected to last all week with a sentence by Friday. He has always maintained he believed he was shooting at an intruder.
The South African made history by becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics, in London in 2012.
He competed in the 400m, wearing carbon-fibre blades to run against able-bodied athletes.
Pretoria today.
The double amputee athlete 29, known as "Blade Runner" arrived in the Pretoria court in a dark suit and tie flanked by a large police escort, his
relatives sitting on one side of the court, the family of Steenkamp on the other.
However, the athlete, will not return to the witness box in a desperate bid to convince the court that he is a 'changed man', as his psychologist says he
is too depressed to testify.
Professor Dr Jonathan Scholtz told the court in Pretoria that during the athlete's time in jail, he was held in ‘virtual isolation for his own
protection'.
Dr Scholtz added that the runner's stumps became infected while inside and he had trouble getting medicine, while prison warders brought visitors to
catch sight of the famous prisoner, the court heard, all hours of the day or night.
It was like ‘being on show as if he was an animal in a cage,' Dr Scholtz said.
The doctor also revealed how a recent outing to a local shop ended up with Pistorius forced to flee after another customer protested about shopping with
a murderer.
Oscar Pistorius faces a jail term of at least 15 years, but his sentence can be reduced due to time already spent in prison and mitigating factors.
The hearing is expected to last all week with a sentence by Friday. He has always maintained he believed he was shooting at an intruder.
The South African made history by becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics, in London in 2012.
He competed in the 400m, wearing carbon-fibre blades to run against able-bodied athletes.
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