Pistorius presses bid to avoid prison at sentencing hearing
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 14 October, 2014, 5:12pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 14 October, 2014, 5:16pm
Agence France-Presse in Pretoria
Oscar Pistorius arrives at the High Court for the second day of sentencing in his murder trial in Pretoria. Photo: EPA
Oscar Pistorius tried to show he is the ideal candidate for house arrest on Tuesday, as the judge heard the final defence witnesses in the Paralympic gold medallist’s sentencing hearing.
The star sprinter’s longtime manager Peet van Zyl took the witness stand for the second day to outline Pistorius’s charity work, an important component of the athlete’s strategy to avoid serving time behind bars.
On Monday, prison official Joel Maringa recommended that 27-year-old Pistorius should receive three years “correctional supervision” through house arrest for fatally shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
He should also clean a Pretoria museum for 16 hours a month, Maringa said.
Pistorius was found guilty last month of negligently killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year.
The double amputee athlete was cleared of the more serious charge of murder.
His sentencing hearing, which began on Monday, is expected to run for most of the week.
The so-called “Blade Runner” could face up to 15 years in prison, or could dodge a jail term altogether with a non-custodial sentence.
The state has indicated it will call at least two witnesses, whose testimony is expected to finish on Wednesday or Thursday.
Judge Thokozile Masipa will likely make her decision on Friday, a state source told reporters.
Both the state and defence then have 14 days to appeal Judge Masipa’s decision.
