Oscar Pistorius arrested after fatal shooting.

[denphone]

Judge Masipa sentences Pistorius to five years imprisonment on the first count. On another count - a firearms offence - he is sentenced to three years, suspended.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-africa-29633280

[peanut]

Should have been at least 10 years.

[richard s]

What a lucky boy, only 5... no justice IMHO.

[Ravenheart]

Word now that he'll only spend 10 months in prison.

[Gary L]

He's a hero.
he's disabled.
he's suffered enough.
he did charity work.

that's why he compared to another person only got 5 years.

[peanut]

Originally Posted by Gary L

He's a hero.
he's disabled.
he's suffered enough.
he did charity work.

that's why he compared to another person only got 5 years.

Yet he makes a point to be treated like any abled person and to compete against them.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by MarkC1984

I said all the way along murder. Whether it was a pre meditated one or not, it was still murder. He used a gun instead of the cricket bat. That poor woman, I can only imagine what she was thinking whilst in that bathroom.

While I don't know about the South African legal system, I do have a little knowledge of ours. My mum's friend's son was killed after a night in a (usually) quiet little local pub. The killer was caught, arrested and convicted of ABH.

Why ABH rather than Murder? According to the Policeman investigating the case it was because although the killer had gone to a quiet local pub in a very safe area for a night out carrying a flick knife, they could not conclusively prove he had gone out with the intention of killing someone. So, the CPS went for ABH as it gave the best chance of securing a conviction and custodial sentence.

In short, in our legal system at least, for a killing to be a Murder, you have to be able to show intent to kill.

Also, bear in mind that parts of South Africa are extremely violent. An ex-colleague of mine is South African and when he used to come out drinking with us, he often used to tell stories of his childhood, which seemed to consist of spending his days sitting just outside his grandfather's shop, shotgun laying on his lap.

While I am not defending Pistorius at all, if the country is as violent as I have been told, I can understand wanting to own a shotgun, and I can understand the paranoia that might lead you to believe that a strange noise in your bathroom is an intruder.

[peanut]

He should have been done for murder, it was odd that he wasn't. Shooting 4 shots through a door he intended to kill whoever was behind it. Also odd that he made no warning prior of his actions.

Armed house invasion is such a problem in SA, I think the guidelines on what is considered a reasonable response to it are probably a lot more relaxed than they are in the UK.

[joglynne]

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been given five years in jail for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Judge Thokozile Masipa also gave Pistorius a three-year suspended sentence for a firearms charge.

The parents of Reeva Steenkamp told the BBC they were happy with the sentence and relieved the case was over. The defence said it expected Pistorius to serve about 10 months in prison.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-29700457

[dilli-theclaw]

I really can't wait for Natalie to get home to get her opinion on this.

Originally Posted by Chris

Armed house invasion is such a problem in SA, I think the guidelines on what is considered a reasonable response to it are probably a lot more relaxed than they are in the UK.

[peanut]

But it's too much to shout 'Who's there, I've got a gun' and fire at least 1 warning shot'. If that happened he wouldn't be where he is today. I don't believe his version of events for one minute.

[Osem]

Given his actions and all the inconsistencies in his account of events I think he's got off very lightly indeed.

[Gary L]

He's going to be released in August.