Oscar Pistorius sentenced to 13 years in jail, SA responds

Judge Willie Seriti announced today that a unanimous judgment by the Supreme Court of Appeal will see Oscar Pistorius’ six year jail sentence replaced with 13 years and 5 months.

The moment Judge Seriti hands down the #OscarPistorius judgment. Courtesy #DStv403pic.twitter.com/01LO7CKmJa

— eNCA (@eNCA) November 24, 2017

The judgment overturned that of Judge Thokozile Masipa, who failed to put forward substantial reasons for her initial lenient sentencing, Prosecutor Andrea Johnson told the court this month.

Pistorius was found guilty of murder when he shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. The case sent the nation reeling, and the ensuing trials, convictions, and sentences left many South Africans angry and confused.

This latest sentence has brought at least some relief.

Glad to see that #OscarPistorius has finally been given a sentence more in line with what he deserves. It shouldn’t have taken nearly 5 years for Reeva Steenkamp’s family to get some kind of justice, but 13 years must seem like less of a joke than his previous sentences.

— MHIRL{Davina} (@MotherhoodIRL) November 24, 2017

At long last some modicum of justice for the late Reeva Steenkamp and her family! #OscarPistorius 🇿🇦

— John Rodwell (@njohnrodwell) November 24, 2017

Late birthday present from the SCA to #OscarPistorius. 13 years is better, but doesn’t erase the leniency that was softly handed to him in the first place.

— Mathew Love (@mathewlove36) November 24, 2017

Look at God #OscarPistorius not satisfied but i’ll take 13 years pic.twitter.com/J6HfSiQaaF

— Simthandile Nomfundo (@Buhle_4) November 24, 2017

Despite the supposed justice of Friday’s sentence, the trials have dampened South African’s faith in the courts. Both the issue of the time it took to reach this decision and the court’s inconsistency were brought into question.

#OscarPistorius What does this says then about our Judges? Culpable Homicide turned into Murder, then 6 years to 13 years? Siphi kanti?

— Yandisa Maquthu (@YMaquthu) November 24, 2017

yes the justice system did great for increasing the sentence of #OscarPistorius but i just wish that it was more consistent.

— Aya (@AyaSogayise) November 24, 2017

Some didn’t think the sentence was long enough.

We call this justice?? Smh #OscarPistoriushttps://t.co/wTren8jJcZ

— Ricky (@irickytweet) November 24, 2017

Still not happy abt that #OscarPistorius sentence but I guess it’s a lot better 🙄

— amorè 🦄 (@Blaqchery) November 24, 2017

And some just wanted to make jokes about Black Friday.

I see #oscarpistorius got a great Black Friday deal. Buy 6 years in prison, get another 7 for free!!!!

— Peter Castleden (@peter_castleden) November 24, 2017

Oscar Pistorious has had his prison sentence increased from 6 years to 13 years. So he’s the only person not to have any reductions this Black Friday. #OscarPistorius

— Michael Lavelle (@mikelavelle93) November 24, 2017

Feature image: Jim Thurston via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0, resized)