Oscar Pistorius Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Reeva Steenkamp Murder

A South African judge sentenced Oscar Pistorius to six years in prison on Wednesday for the murder of his girlfriend, citing mitigating circumstances in delivering less than the prescribed minimum punishment.

The double-amputee Olympian showed no emotion as the sentence was read out in court, the latest chapter in a drawn-out legal saga full of twists and turns. Pistorius was initially convicted of culpable homicide — the equivalent of manslaughter under South African law — for killing law graduate and model Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013.

An appeals court reversed that result last year and found Pistorius guilty of the more serious charge of murder. South Africa's highest court later dismissed an appeal of that conviction, paving the way for Wednesday's sentencing. The athlete known as "Blade Runner" has been living under house arrest. He is facing 15 years in prison.

As he arrived in the Pretoria courtroom on Wednesday, Pistorious embraced family members. Steenkamp's parents, Barry and June, were also in the courtroom. Pistorius stared straight ahead as Judge Thokozile Masipa began delivering the sentencing, going over the runner's family history and recapping his psychological assessments.

Masipa acknowledged the "unprecedented" interest in the case but stressed that she could not base her sentencing on public opinion. She cited "a number of aggravating factors" in the case — including that Pistorius fired "not one but four" shots into the bathroom knowing there was someone inside.

However, she disagreed with the notion that Pistorius had failed to show remorse by noting that he had tried to apologize to the Steenkamp family. "It is my view that it must be one of the most difficult things for any accused to have to face the victims of his crime and to apologize," Masipa told the court.

She said nothing "can diminish the pain" felt by Steenkamp's loved ones — but suggested "substantial and compelling" circumstances could justify deviating from the prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years. Asking Pistorius to stand, she then delivered her sentence of six years.

Lawyers for Pistorius have pleaded for leniency. Last month the athlete's defense team had Pistorius remove his prostheses and hobble on his stumps in front of the judge in an attempt to show he is vulnerable.