Star athlete turned murder accused Oscar Pistorius will serve five years in prison. Pistorius who shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of 14 February 2013, was found guilty of culpable homicide late last week, as well as an earlier charge of recklessly shooting a firearm in public. The five years is for the former, while the latter saw him receive a three-year suspended sentence.
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The trial, which has dragged on far longer than many originally anticipated, has nonetheless captured the attention of the South African public and the world at large.
Just how interested people have been in the case was illustrated again today by the way Twitter reacted as Judge Thokozile Masipa read out her sentence. While some felt that justice had finally been served, most were vocally critical of the sentence, suggesting that it was far too light.
"@KimBoshoff: 5 years is better than him walking free #OscarTrial! Judge Masipa has issued a fair sentence"
— iNyoka (@MNQO_BEE) October 21, 2014
5 years m'lady. Better than nothing. #OscarPistorius #OscarTrial #pistorius
— Hero (@HieroHero) October 21, 2014
5 years for Oscar for manslaughter and 3 years suspended for firearms offence finally justice has been served! #OscarTrial
— Alexandra Scott (@alextscott18) October 21, 2014
I think the South African justice system might be in need of some reforms after this… #OscarTrial
— Jon Gleeson (@jon_gleeson) October 21, 2014
Bye, bye #OscarPistorius. See you when you apply for (medical?) parole. #JusticeForReeva #OscarTrial
— Sanity Cheek (@SanityCheek) October 21, 2014
Oscar gets 5 years in prison.. some would say he deserves more. #OscarTrial
— .. El Pãpino • (@ChroniclesOf_T) October 21, 2014
5 years? I'm genuinely confused. #OscarTrial
— Jody vd Heyde (@JOdles18) October 21, 2014
5 years (probably out in 2) is way too light for what he did. #OscarPistorius #OscarTrial
— Graham Farmer (@gravyonsports) October 21, 2014
#OscarPistorius #OscarTrial lets hope nobody in prison mistakes Oscar of a burglar and shoots him.
— Andi Ali (@Andi_Ali) October 21, 2014
Oscar to jail
